- A 10-year-old boy was arrested after driving a stolen car through a busy Minneapolis playground.
- Local authorities report that the boy has had over 30 police contacts in the past 18 months.
- Despite his history, officials believe prison is not a viable option for such a young child.
Police in Minneapolis have arrested and charged a 10-year-old boy who drove a reportedly stolen Hyundai Sonata through a crowded playground near Nellie Stone Johnson Community School on September 20. In case you’re wondering if you read that right—yes, a 10-year-old behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle, and yes, he drove it through a playground. If this sounds like the setup for a particularly dark punchline, sadly, it’s not.
Read: Brazen Kia Stinger Theft At Gas Pump Teaches Hard Lessons In 30 Seconds Flat
While authorities are withholding the young boy’s identity, they’ve booked him into the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center on suspicion of second-degree assault, reckless driving, and receiving stolen property. And here’s where it gets less surprising—this isn’t the boy’s first brush with the law. In fact, it’s not even his fifth. We’re way past that point.
A Disturbing Pattern Emerges
According to police chief Brian O’Hara, the 10-year-old has also been charged with threats of violence and an attempt to commit an auto theft from an incident in August. The boy reportedly threatened a female motorist in a Kia with a knife and allegedly told her “I will gut you.” He has had at least 30 contacts with police since May 2023.
The Minnesota Star Tribune says the boy has been arrested at least twice in the past for auto theft-related crimes and is listed as a suspect in more than 12 cases, including auto theft and assault with a dangerous weapon. One of the auto thefts he’s been charged with occurred when he was just nine years old.
Speaking with local media, the mother of the boy said she doesn’t know why he has started stealing cars.
“Why he does it, I don’t know,” she said. “He doesn’t come from a bad home. I’m a single mom. His father passed away. Kids who are in the community who are older and getting him into that. He’s traumatized by these older kids. … I want my son to get help. He’s a 10-year-old kid.”
Playground Chaos
Footage of the most recent incident shows dozens of kids on the playground when the young driver of the 2013 Hyundai Sonata sped past on the grass on several occasions. Teachers who were watching the kids on the playground can be seen scrambling to keep them out of harm’s way.
“It is unfathomable that a 10-year-old boy has been involved in this level of criminal activity without effective intervention,” O’Hara added. “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.”
You can almost hear the subtext in his voice: Someone, anyone, please get a handle on this before we end up in even more bizarre territory.