Charges laid in fatal gas-and-dash in Thorsby
A Spruce Grove man already being held on other offences has been charged with second-degree murder in the gas-and-dash death of a Thorsby fuel station owner.
The RCMP major crimes unit said Monday officers arrested Mitchell Robert Sydlowski, 27, at the Edmonton Remand Centre on Friday.
He was charged with seconddegree murder and failing to remain at the scene of an accident, as well as stolen property and theft charges.
GAS-AND-DASH
The driver of a stolen cube van gassed up at the Thorsby Fas Gas on Oct. 6, 2017, before fleeing without paying. Store owner Ki Yun Jo, 54, was killed as he tried to chase the vehicle.
Jo’s death devastated the community of fewer than 1,000 people and forced his wife and two adult children to take over the store.
Sydlowski’s bail hearing is set for Tuesday in Wetaskiwin provincial court.
Sung Hyun Jo, 30, said the family was relieved to hear there had been an arrest in his father’s death.
His mother, Meyoung Hee Han, often worried the person responsible was still free — perhaps even visiting the store.
The family was called to the Thorsby RCMP detachment the day of the arrest and shown pictures of the accused.
“It just made me more sad,” said Sung Hyun Jo, who goes by the first name Ed. “Because after seeing his picture and knowing his age, I just couldn’t understand why he would do such a thing. He looked completely normal to me.”
Jo lived in the back of the shop with a Pomeranian dog, named Pome. His family lived in Edmonton, about an hour away.
Jo came to Canada from South Korea and bought the store as a starter business, his son said.
Jo’s death prompted the Alberta government to pass pay-before-you-pump legislation to protect gas station attendants. The law takes effect Friday.
A search of court records show Sydlowski has had run-ins with the law going back to 2009, when he was fined $400 for each charge of uttering threats, causing a disturbance and obstructing/resisting a peace officer.
Sydlowski’s record shows he is to appear in Leduc provincial court for a separate trial Oct. 1 on weapons, stolen property and obstructing/resisting a peace officer charges.