10-year-old arrested for walking in crowded park

A troubled 10-year-old boy who already racked up several car theft-related arrests was arrested again last month in Minneapolis for stealing a car and nearly running over children in a park.

Surveillance footage obtained by Fox 9 shows the miniature menace swerving and circling a playground on Sept. 20 as dozens of children played near the Nellie Stone Johnson School in north Minneapolis.

At one point, the car crosses the driveway as a young child tries to walk towards his guardian, the frightening footage shows. Fortunately, no children were injured during this dangerous stunt.

The youth was arrested Thursday and booked into a juvenile detention center on probable cause of second-degree assault, Fox 9 reported, citing police.

Surprisingly, the 10-year-old is no stranger to the Minneapolis Police Department and his criminal record dates back to May 2023.

He was arrested twice previously for auto theft-related crimes and was a suspect in a case involving assault with a deadly weapon, the department said, according to the report.

In an incident in August, the boy allegedly pulled out a knife while trying to run over someone’s vehicle. When the woman tried to resist, the little devil threatened to “eviscerate” her.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said at a news conference Friday that the boy was part of a disturbing trend plaguing the Midwest city.

“This is an example that we need to highlight because this is the problem that we have seen all year,” he continued. “We noticed this year that the age of very active young offenders has become younger.”

“Even though it started with the key and Hyundai theft issue, it continued with more serious crimes.”

Chief O’Hara also said the child’s family was cooperating with police – and had previously requested more serious intervention, but to no avail.

The chief said “the system” failed this mother and his office was trying to defend her interests.

The boy’s mother reportedly said that her son and other disturbed juveniles were committing these crimes “for their own entertainment.”

The Hennepin County Prosecutor’s Office charges the boy with reckless driving and receiving stolen property.

“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 remain in their homes,” said the prosecutor’s office in a press release.

“We cannot charge or prosecute our way out of this crisis. »

“This is just one example of the revolving door we face: arresting and re-arresting the same juveniles for car theft and other violent crimes,” echoed Chief O’Hara.