Brooklyn Park man sentenced for hitting girl getting off school bus in 2019

A Brooklyn Park man has been sentenced after hitting a girl who was getting off a school bus in May 2019.

Court records show Gregory Garth was sentenced last week over 2.5 years (33 months) at the St. Cloud Correctional Facility and was given credit for 198 days already served.

Garth had been charged with three counts of criminal vehicular operation while being under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, but two of those counts were dismissed.

Brooklyn Park man charged after car hit girl getting off school bus in May

According to a criminal complaint, 11-year-old Shianne Dean got off her school bus at about 4:50 p.m. on May 3 at Penn Avenue N., near 23rd Avenue N. As she crossed Penn Avenue, the complaint states that Garth drove his Saturn car around the bus and hit her. Dean was let out at a temporary bus stop because the usual stop was hindered by construction, and so the bus driver didn't activate the school bus stop arm or flashing lights.

Garth stopped and police detected alcohol on his breath, according to the complaint. When a blood sample was taken three hours later, Garth's blood registered at .077, just below the legal limit of .08, but traces of cocaine and THC were also found.

Dean was seriously injured.