Man charged with murder in gas-and-dash death
A Spruce Grove man already being held on other offences has been charged with second-degree murder in the gasa-nd-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.
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.
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.
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.