Boy, 10, accused of driving stolen car to playground

A 10-year-old has been arrested for allegedly driving a stolen car through a crowded schoolyard.

Minneapolis police said the incident occurred Sept. 20 at Nellie Stone Johnson School on the city's north side.

It was caught on video surveillance and shows a black vehicle driving back and forth near the playground equipment where more than a dozen children were running and playing.

Police said the playground was “crowded” at the time, and a spokesman added: “Thankfully no children in the playground were hit by the driver.”

The 10-year-old boy was taken to the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center on Thursday.

It was at least the boy's third arrest, police said, and he was suspected in a dozen cases ranging from car theft to robbery and assault with a dangerous weapon.

“It is unimaginable that a 10-year-old boy would be involved in criminal activity of this magnitude without effective intervention,” said Brian O'Hara, the police chief.

“Prison is not an acceptable option for a 10-year-old boy. But the adults who can stop this behavior in the future must act now to help this child and his family.”

A police spokesman added that the boy's family members were cooperating and “asked for help to prevent their son or anyone else from being injured or killed.”