10-year-old almost hits children in Minneapolis playground with stolen car: Video

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – A 10-year-old boy was arrested after he stole a car and drove recklessly near a crowded schoolyard, nearly hitting children playing outside, according to Minneapolis police.

What we know

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said Friday morning that the incident occurred Sept. 20 in the playground outside Nellie Stone Johnson School in north Minneapolis.

According to police, surveillance footage shows the boy driving the stolen vehicle back and forth on the lawn behind the playground before making his way onto the sidewalk, just feet from the playground, while children play nearby stand. No children were struck by the 10-year-old driver, according to a news release.

Chief O'Hara said the boy was identified as the driver Thursday and was arrested on probable cause of second-degree assault and booked into the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center.

Past crimes

It's not the first time the 10-year-old has been accused of stealing a car. Police said the boy was arrested on at least two other occasions for crimes related to car theft. Chief O'Hara added that the 10-year-old is listed as a suspect in more than a dozen other cases, including auto theft, assault with a dangerous weapon and robbery.

The boy has a criminal history dating back to May 2023 and includes around 30 incidents – most of which are outliers. According to a news release, O'Hara said the 10-year-old's family is cooperating with law enforcement and has asked for help to “prevent their son or anyone else from being injured or killed.”

Charges filed in juvenile court

In a news release Friday, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office (HCAO) announced that it has filed charges in the case but cannot provide further details due to the child's age.

However, the law firm noted that someone cannot be prosecuted if they are unable to assist their lawyers in their defense or cannot understand the court proceedings. A court-appointed psychologist decides whether someone is competent and presents their opinion to the judge, who makes the final decision. If a child is found to be incompetent, the child will be removed from custody and the case will either be dismissed or stayed.

What they say

Chief O'Hara expressed concern about the child's alleged repeated criminal activity and released a statement saying:

“It is unimaginable that a 10-year-old boy could have experienced this level of criminal activity without effective intervention. Prison is not an acceptable option for a 10-year-old boy. But the adults who can stop this behavior in the future must act.” This is just one example of the revolving door we are dealing with – arresting and re-arresting the same teenagers for car theft and other violent crimes. This is a complex issue and we need all stakeholders involved to work together immediately to find short and long-term solutions.”

The HCAO released a statement saying, among other things:

“We are facing an urgent crisis in our community related to a small group of children who are unable to navigate the juvenile justice system but cannot be safe at home. We are actively engaging with law enforcement, county and state partners on the urgent need for safe and appropriate out-of-home placements for children with these complex needs who require specialized care. We cannot sue or prosecute our way out of this crisis.

“What we need is clear: residential placements with varying levels of security in our community that have the resources and staff to accommodate and successfully treat our youth with complex needs. And we need urgent and immediate action to address this issue now.”

What we don't know

Police have not yet released details about when and how the car was stolen or how long the child allegedly drove it.

Additionally, no further information about the boy's other alleged crimes has been released. The HCAO did not say exactly what the child was accused of.