Steven Frane Bailey, who has already been charged with 11 criminal counts related to the horrific vehicle crash into a crowded patio at Park Tavern on Labor Day weekend, is now facing two additional counts of third-degree murder.
Two people were killed and at least nine others were injured when Bailey, 59, accelerated through the fenced patio that sits in the parking lot of the bar on Louisiana Avenue in St. Louis Park, Minn.
Bailey, who had a BAC of .325, was charged last week with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide in the deaths of Park Tavern server Kristina Folkerts and Gabe Harvey, who worked at Methodist Hospital. Several others who were in a group with Harvey and also work at Methodist Hospital were injured in the crash, some severely. Bailey additionally faces several felony and gross misdemeanor counts of criminal vehicular operation in relation to those injured parties.
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More from St. Louis Park where a vehicle plowed into a patio crowd at Park Tavern. At least two reported to be deceased and several injured. pic.twitter.com/uEzHTFG48M— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) September 2, 2024
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office (HCAO) announced on Monday that two additional charges of third-degree murder were added against Bailey after the office was able to view the surveillance video obtained from Park Tavern.
An updated press release said the video shows Bailey entered the parking lot when it was nearly at capacity and with people walking around and vehicles driving in the parking lot throughout the incident. The statement said that Bailey would have had a clear view of the patio, tables, umbrellas, and the numerous individuals seated outside from the time he pulled into the lot and throughout his course of travel through the parking lot.
According to the HCAO:
“Once in the parking lot, Mr. Bailey passes several parked cars, then stops shortly after passing an empty parking space on his passenger side. He can be seen backing up and turning his BMW so the front-end swings to the right to allow him to pull forward into the empty space. Mr. Bailey backs up further than appears necessary to safely pull into the empty parking space and ultimately hits a parked car with the rear end of his vehicle. Rather than parking, he starts to drive away from the parked car he hit. Within seconds, Mr. Bailey can be seen accelerating at a high rate of speed in what appears to be an attempt to flee the scene. As he accelerates through the parking lot, a black SUV can be seen turning into the area where Mr. Bailey is driving. He appears to swerve slightly in an attempt to avoid the black SUV. Mr. Bailey’s vehicle then hits the rear driver’s side of the black SUV, without slowing down and continues to accelerate straight towards the patio. There is no outlet or way to exit the parking lot from that area.
After hitting the black SUV, Mr. Bailey accelerates straight past a two-lane drive in the parking lot and 11 parking spaces, then plows his vehicle through a metal fence and into the patio seating area. Mr. Bailey’s BMW hits multiple occupied tables, striking multiple people and sending debris flying. He continues driving all the way through the full length of the patio without braking. His vehicle does not slow down until it comes to an abrupt and violent halt when it hits several boulders and the base of a steep incline.”
A person commits third-degree murder when they cause death “by perpetrating an act eminently dangerous to others and evincing a depraved mind, without regard for human life,” the HCAO said.
The HCAO said it requested that Park Tavern not release the video to the public due to the ongoing investigation and to provide the victims and their families an opportunity “to watch the video privately, with support, in the time and manner they choose.”
Bailey remains in custody on $1 million bail or $500,000 with conditions, and records show he has retained a private attorney.
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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
