10-year-old boy drives stolen car across crowded playground, Minnesota police say
A 10-year-old boy was arrested after police said he drove a stolen car through a crowded playground.
On Sept. 20, the boy drove the vehicle across a crowded playground at Nellie Stone Johnson Elementary School in northern Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Police Department said in an Oct. 4 news release.
“Surveillance video shows school staff frantically trying to move children off the playground and out of harm’s way,” police said. “Fortunately, no children on the playground were struck by the driver.”
Police said the boy has “at least 30 entries” since May 2023, and has been arrested at least twice in connection with crimes related to auto theft. He’s listed as a suspect in over 12 cases related to auto theft, robbery or assault with a dangerous weapon.
“It is unfathomable that a 10-year-old boy has been involved in this level of criminal activity without effective intervention,” Police Chief Brian O’Hara said in the release. “Prison is not an acceptable option for a 10-year-old boy. But the adults who can stop this behavior going forward must act now to help this child and his family.”
The boy’s family is cooperating with authorities and “have asked for help to keep their son or anyone else from being injured or killed,” police said.
“This is only one example of the revolving door we’re dealing with – arresting and re-arresting the same juveniles for auto-theft and other violent crimes,” O’Hara said. “This is a complex issue, and we need every entity involved in intervention to come together immediately to establish short- and long-term solutions.”
The boy was booked into the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center, police said.
This story was originally published October 6, 2024 at 3:31 PM.
