A 10-year-old Minnesota boy was arrested Thursday after he allegedly drove a stolen car through a playground packed with children, officials said.
“The boy was booked into the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center on Thursday for probable cause 2nd-degree assault,” authorities said.
The incident occurred on Sept. 20 at Nellie Stone Johnson School in Minneapolis.
No children were struck or injured. The juvenile was reportedly no stranger to local law enforcement.
“Police records indicate that the 10-year-old boy has at least 30 entries dating back to May 2023,” authorities said.
“He has been arrested at least twice before for auto theft-related crimes.”
The boy is also listed as a suspect in “more than 12 cases that range from auto theft to robbery to assault with a dangerous weapon,” in addition to “runaway type cases.”
Surveillance footage from the scene shows the car traveling on the grass and sidewalk, passing children playing on slides and climbing setups several times.
School staffers could be seen rushing to move the kids from the car’s path.
“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.
“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.”
