MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — The 14-year-old boy accused of stealing a school bus Monday and crashing it into a gas station has been charged.
The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office charged the boy with felony motor vehicle theft and two charges of criminal damage to property in connection with the incident.
Roseville police officers were dispatched to a Shell gas station at 7:51 a.m. Monday, located on 2154 Dale St. on the report of a stolen bus. Upon arrival, police officers encountered a man who had taken the boy into custody for the theft of a Centerline Charter school bus.
(credit: Roseville Police Department)
Officials say the driver of the school bus left it unattended for 20 minutes while she went into the gas station to get a cup of coffee. That’s when the boy hopped in and drove it for a few miles, claiming he was trying to return it to its rightful home.
When he ran into traffic on Dale Street, he drove the bus into the gas station but failed to navigate around the gas pumps.
The boy made his initial court appearance on Tuesday, and against the recommendation of the state, he was released into the custody of his parents under the supervision of the Ramsey County Intensive Supervision Program.
His next court appearance has been set for March 6.
