A 10-year-old in North Minneapolis was arrested after driving a stolen car through a playground full of other kids.
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Police Chief Brian O’Hara Said the incident occurred on Friday near Nellie Stone Johnson School in north Minneapolis. The boy stolen a car then drove it back and forth, and some point driving near the sidewalk and almost hitting another child.
Police booked the 10-year-old into the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center Thursday. According to the department, this is at least his third arrest and he is a suspect in a dozen cases ranging from “auto theft to robbery to assault with a dangerous weapon.” They also say this is not a scenario of neglect from the family as they’ve been asking for help with the boy in hopes of him and anyone else being killed.
Charges have been filed for the most recent crime, but due to the boy’s age, there are not many details available. Chief O’Hara believes this case is an example of the system failing the family.
The Hennepin County Attorney’s office says it “cannot charge or prosecute our way out of this crisis,” and adds it’s working with law enforcement, county and state partners in the hope of creating “out-of-home placements” for young offenders with “complex needs.”
