MINNEAPOLIS — A 10-year-old is in custody after Minneapolis police said he drove a stolen vehicle recklessly across a crowded school playground.
Minneapolis police said officers responded to Nellie Stone Johnson School on Sept. 20. Surveillance video shows the car driving on the grass and sidewalk close to the busy playground multiple times. School staff moved children out of harm's way, helping to prevent anyone from being struck.
The 10-year-old boy was identified as the driver and was booked into the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center on Thursday for probable cause second-degree assault.
MPD stated the boy has been arrested at least twice previously for crimes related to auto theft. He is also a suspect in more than 12 cases ranging from auto theft to robbery to assault with a dangerous weapon.
MPD Chief Brian O'Hara said the family is cooperative with police and has asked for help working with their son.
“It is unfathomable that a 10-year-old boy has been involved in this level of criminal activity without effective intervention,” 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."
"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," he added. "This is a complex issue, and we need every entity involved in intervention to come together immediately to establish short- and long-term solutions.”
Later Friday morning, the office of Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty released a statement calling for "urgent and immediate action" to address the "complex needs" of seemingly troubled youth.
The full statement reads:
“The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office has filed charges in this matter because of the very significant safety implications both for this child and the broader community. We will have no further statement on this specific matter as the law prohibits the sharing of criminal justice information related to children this young.
"It is important to note that in all cases, a person, including a child, cannot be prosecuted if they are not capable of understanding the legal proceedings or assisting their lawyer in the defense. A court-appointed psychologist makes a recommendation on competency to a judge who ultimately makes the decision. If a child is found not competent by the court, the case against them must be dismissed or suspended, and the child must be released from custody.
“We are facing an urgent crisis in our community related to a small group of children who are not competent to stand trial in the juvenile justice system, but who cannot safely be at home. We are actively engaged with law enforcement, as well as county and state partners, about the critical need for safe and appropriate out-of-home placements for children with these complex needs who require specialized care. We cannot charge or prosecute our way out of this crisis.
“What we need is clear: residential placements with varying levels of security in our community that are resourced and staffed to be able to accept and successfully treat our youth with complex needs. And we need urgent and immediate action to address this issue now.”