Hennepin County Attorney’s Office secures guilty plea from Steven Bailey for Park Tavern incident

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office secured guilty pleas from Steven Frane Bailey, 56, for causing the deaths of Kristina Folkerts and Gabe Harvey, as well as causing the injuries sustained by numerous other victims. On Sep. 1, 2024, Mr. Bailey arrived at Park Tavern in St. Louis Park with a BAC of .335. Once in the parking lot, he struck two vehicles, then drove through the fully occupied patio at a high rate of speed.

Mr. Bailey pleaded guilty to the following charges:

Two counts of third-degree murder – depraved mind
Three counts of criminal vehicular operation – great bodily harm

Under the terms of the plea, Mr. Bailey will be sentenced to a minimum of 25 years, with a range of up to 30 years.

“Mr. Bailey’s choices that day scarred many lives and affected an entire community,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said. “Our thoughts today are with Kristina and Gabe’s families, as well as all those who were injured and affected by such a senseless act. Mr. Bailey is being held accountable and will be in prison for a long time to ensure that he cannot hurt anyone else. This was an entirely avoidable tragedy. There are many options to get where you need to go safely, there is no excuse for drinking and driving.”

Mr. Bailey was initially charged with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide and nine counts of criminal vehicular operation with varying degrees of injury.

Following a thorough review of additional evidence not available at the time of the initial charging decision, the charges were amended to include two counts of third-degree murder and 12 counts of criminal vehicular operation.

Mr. Bailey is currently scheduled to be sentenced on July 28 at 1 p.m.

Case Number: 27-CR-24-20150

#30#