Brooklyn Park man charged with impairment when his car hit school girl
8/15/2019
Gregory Garth, who was charged with hitting a girl with his car as she got off the school bus, will have an omnibus hearing on Aug. 26, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office announced Thursday.
Garth, 60, of Brooklyn Park was charged July 18 with two counts of criminal vehicular operation while under the influence of alcohol and one count of criminal vehicular operation while under the influence of drugs. He made his initial court appearance on Aug. 1 and bail was set at $75,000 without conditions or $40,000 with conditions.
According to the criminal complaint, an 11-year-old girl got off her school bus about 4:50 p.m. on May 3 at Penn Avenue North near 23rd Avenue North. As she crossed Penn Avenue, Garth drove his Saturn car around the bus and hit the girl, who was thrown against the car’s windshield and then landed in the middle of the street.
The girl was let out at a temporary bus stop because the usual stop was hindered by construction. As a result, the bus driver did not activate the school bus stop arm or flashing lights, the complaint states.
Garth did stop and police detected alcohol on his breath. About three hours later, a sample of Garth’s blood was taken and it registered at .077, just below the legal limit of .08. It also found traces of cocaine and THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, according to the complaint.
The girl was taken to the hospital and over time required three operations to relieve pressure on her brain, the complaint states. She is expected to suffer permanent memory loss and weakness on her left side.
Garth Criminal Complaint (PDF)