Old Strathcona arsonist suicidal, local court hears
Malice Sutton, 23, pleads guilty to four charges related to incident in April
A man who set fire to a dozen vehicles along a busy Old Strathcona street in April told police he was feeling suicidal when he decided to go on an arson spree captured on social media.
Malice Sutton, 23, pleaded guilty Aug. 1 to four charges including arson with disregard for human life, arson causing property damage, assault with a weapon and using an explosive with intent to do bodily harm. He initially faced 19 charges.
According to the agreed statement of facts entered in Edmonton provincial court, Sutton told police he had been homeless and unemployed for several months while suffering from declining mental health.
He said on April 12, he planned to purchase steel-toed boots to help his job prospects, but feeling despair bought alcohol instead. He drank a “substantial amount” of vodka and became suicidal. Instead of committing suicide, he decided to damage other people’s property.
“He purchased several bottles of soda, a jerry can, and approximately $10 worth of gas,” the statement said.
Sutton told police on April 26 during an interview at the Edmonton Remand Centre that he originally planned to cause damage to a parkade associated with Spotlight Cabaret, where months earlier he lost his job as a dishwasher.
This led to the arson spree captured on social media, where video showed Sutton walking along Whyte Avenue, damaging 12 vehicles and “endangering and frightening many people.”
The statement of facts said Sutton went behind a shipping container in a back ally between 103 Street and 104 Street. He created three Molotov cocktails by “pouring gasoline into glass soda bottles and then stuffing torn socks through the screw caps which he had previously perforated.”
He turned the bottles upside down to soak the socks, creating wicks. He lit one and threw it. When a driver came by, he lit a second one and threw it at the vehicle, causing minor damage, but did not injuring anyone. “Sutton then proceeded to cause damage to (12) parked and unoccupied vehicles along his route of travel with a jerry can and lighter,” the statement of facts said.
He was eventually chased into a nearby Starbucks along Whyte Avenue by two citizens — who were infamously characterized online as “Hawaiian shirt guy” and “2x4 guy.” The two detained Sutton until police arrived.
Sutton is next scheduled to appear in Edmonton provincial court on Nov. 8.