Driver in Park Tavern crash that killed two denies alcohol use problem

In his first court appearance after allegedly killing two people and injuring nine others by driving drunk and crashing his SUV into the patio at Park Tavern on Labor Day weekend, Steven Frane Bailey said his use of alcohol was not a problem.

Bailey stood calmly in an orange jumpsuit while making his first court appearance at the Hennepin County Public Safety Facility in downtown Minneapolis on Wednesday afternoon. He glanced occasionally at the families and friends of the victims of the crash who packed the courtroom. He is charged with six felonies, including two counts of criminal vehicular homicide while driving under the influence.

Assistant Hennepin County Attorney Erin Goltz told Judge Juan Hoyos that Bailey denied “any problematic use of drugs or alcohol” during an evaluation before his first appearance. Goltz said that lack of awareness made Bailey a continued threat to the public and asked for $1 million bail.

Defense attorney Tom Sieben, representing Bailey, argued that while his client was aware of the gravity of the situation, he was not a flight risk, was actively employed and had lived at the same house for 24 years. Sieben asked for $250,000 bail.

He added that Bailey’s entire criminal history stemmed from alcohol use.

“We understand the loss to many people in this courtroom here and that’s terrible,” Sieben said. “But if Steven Bailey is not drinking alcohol, Steven Bailey has never had an interaction with the law.”

Hoyos set bail at $500,000 with several conditions including that Bailey take a substance use disorder assessment, not drink alcohol, stay away from the victims and their families, avoid the Park Tavern and remain on electronic home monitoring. Bailey’s next court appearance was tentatively set for Oct. 1.

Bailey’s two daughters sat in the front row during the hearing, wiping away tears. Afterward they said they had spoken with their father briefly and that he was “really, really remorseful.” The two women, who asked not to be named, said Bailey raised them both and they had different mothers.