10 year old drives stolen vehicle across school playground near children police say

MINNEAPOLIS (Gray News) - A 10-year-old boy was arrested for driving a stolen vehicle across a crowded school playground, and police said the boy is a repeat offender.

In a surveillance video from Sept. 20, the car is seen on the grass and sidewalk as school staff at Nellie Stone Johnson School try to move children out of harm’s way.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the boy was booked into Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center on Oct. 3 for probable cause second-degree assault.

Police said the 10-year-old boy is a repeat offender and has had at least 30 incidents dating back to May 2023.

He has been arrested at least twice for auto-theft-related crimes and is listed as a suspect in more than 12 cases that range from auto theft to robbery to 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,” said O’Hara. “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. 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. This is a complex issue, and we need every entity involved in intervention to come together immediately to establish short- and long-term solutions.”

O’Hara said the boy’s family is cooperative with police and has asked for help.