ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. — The man who police say drove into the patio of The Park Tavern, killing two and hurting nine others, made his first court appearance on Wednesday.
Steven Bailey did not say much other than answering basic questions before a judge. At the same time, The Park Tavern — a bowling alley, bar and grill — is readying a soft reopening.
The court appearance comes three days after a vehicle, allegedly driven by Bailey, drove into the busy patio of the St. Louis Park restaurant Sunday night. In a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty revealed Bailey, 56, had a blood-alcohol level of .325 when the crash occurred — more than four times the legal limit to drive in Minnesota.
Two victims did not survive their injuries. They were identified as Kristina Folkerts, a server at Park Tavern, and Gabe Harvey, a health unit coordinator at Methodist Hospital. According to the criminal complaint nine others were hurt. Three ICU nurses from Methodist were hospitalized.
Bailey did not enter a plea on Thursday according to a KARE 11 reporter who was in the courtroom. His bond was set at $500,000. A date was not set, but his next court appearance is anticipated for October.
Court records show Bailey has been convicted of at least five previous drunk driving offenses in his lifetime.