The boy has reportedly been arrested twice for auto theft and is a suspect in 12 additional cases
Minneapolis police 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. Yes, you read that correctly—a 10-year-old was behind the wheel of a stolen car, and yes, he drove it through a playground. Unfortunately, this is not the setup for a dark joke.
Authorities have not released the boy’s identity, but he has been booked into the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center on charges of second-degree assault, reckless driving, and receiving stolen property. Unfortunately, this incident is far from his first encounter with the law—it’s not even his fifth. We’re well beyond that.
Police Chief Brian O’Hara revealed that the 10-year-old has also been charged with making violent threats and attempting auto theft in an August incident. The boy allegedly threatened a female motorist in a Kia with a knife, telling her, “I will gut you.” Since May 2023, he has had at least 30 encounters with police.
According to the Minnesota Star Tribune, the boy has been arrested at least twice for auto theft and is a suspect in over 12 cases, including auto theft and assault with a dangerous weapon. One of these thefts occurred when he was just nine years old.
In an interview with local media, the boy’s mother said she doesn’t understand why he started stealing cars.
“I don’t know why he does it,” she said. “He doesn’t come from a bad home. I’m a single mom, and his father passed away. Older kids in the community are influencing him, and he’s traumatized by them. … I just want my son to get help. He’s only 10 years old.”
Footage from the latest incident shows dozens of kids playing on the playground as the young driver of a 2013 Hyundai Sonata sped past on the grass multiple times. Teachers supervising the playground can be seen rushing to protect the children.
“It’s unfathomable that a 10-year-old boy has been involved in this level of criminal activity without proper intervention,” O’Hara stated. “Prison is not a viable option for a 10-year-old. However, the adults who can prevent this behavior in the future must take action now to support this child and his family.”
You can almost sense the urgency in his tone: Someone, anyone, needs to intervene before the situation escalates further.
