Brooklyn Park Police: 5 girls arrested after theft, alleged assault, police chase and crash

Brooklyn Park police say they have arrested five girls ages 12-14 years of age after a string of incidents including possible theft, assault, a police chase and a crash with a stolen vehicle.

A safety alert stated at 3:38 p.m. Tuesday, police went to the Target store at 7535 W. Broadway Ave. for reports of theft involving three girls. According to police, two of the girls involved in the theft were 12 years old and the third was identified as a 13-year-old.

It was discovered that the vehicle the girls left in was stolen from Minneapolis. Police say the girls assaulted an “uninvolved citizen” as they drove away through the parking lot.

Brooklyn Park police tell 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS one of the girls got out of the vehicle and randomly confronted a man, and also slapped him in the face. Police say they don’t know if there was any verbal exchange between the man and the girl before the assault, and don’t know what caused the confrontation.

A chase began, but police say they stopped the chase shortly after. However, it resumed when the stolen vehicle was found to have crashed with another vehicle at Candlewood Drive North and West Broadway Avenue.

Officers described significant damage to both vehicles, but the occupants of the non-suspect vehicle weren’t hurt.

Although the suspect vehicle was empty when responders arrived, police say they found and arrested the girls who were accused of theft, as well as two others who were ages 13 and 14 – with the help of K-9 units. The two girls who were arrested that weren’t at the store are for accomplices.

It was reported that witnesses helped police at the store, the assault scene and the crash scene.

The department says two of the girls were released to their parents at the station. However, police say the other three girls were taken to the Hennepin County Supervision Center when police either determined they were runaways or failed to connect with legal guardians.

A safety alert wrapped up by stating the girls will be “charged for their crimes at a later date.”

Formal charges are pending, including Fleeing Police in a Motor Vehicle, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Theft and Assault.