Connect with us

Crime

Thorsby/Breton – RCMP Major Crimes North Lay Charges in Fatal Pedestrian Hit & Run

Published

6 minute read

Thorsby, Alberta – The RCMP Major Crimes Unit have made an arrest and laid charges against 27-year-old Mitchell Robert Sydlowski of Spruce Grove in the death of Ki Yun Jo.

On October 6, 2017 a hit and run occurred at the Fas Gas service station resulting in the death of 54-year-old Ki Yun Jo. A stolen white cube van was seen to flee the Fas Gas after not paying for gas.  The owner of the service station, Ki Yun Jo, made efforts to stop the van and was fatally injured when he was struck by the van.

The RCMP Major Crimes Unit (North) took carriage of this investigation and have been diligently investigating, including following up on all possible leads.  This incident was witnessed by several people and impacted the community.  On May 25, Sydlowski was arrested by the RCMP at the Edmonton Remand Centre.  He has been charged with: Second degree murder, fail to remain at the scene of an accident causing death, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and theft under $5,000. A bail hearing was held on May 26 and the matter has been set over to Tuesday, May 29 at the Provincial court in Wetaskiwin.

“An investigation into a homicide remains active until it’s solved” says Sergeant Bryce Long of the RCMP Major Crimes Unit.  “Our team has worked hard on this investigation, and seeing these charges laid brings a great sense of closure not only to the Major Crimes Unit, but to the community at large and particularly the family of Ki Yun Jo.”

 

Background:

 

UPDATE #4

October 16, 2017

Thorsby/Breton RCMP locate suspect cube van involved in fatal pedestrian hit & run

Thorsby, Alberta – The stolen white Ford cube van, involved in a fatal pedestrian hit & run in Thorsby, has been located by the RCMP, abandoned, in a rural area southwest of Devon.  The van was recovered near Range Road 275 and Township Road 502.

The RCMP Edmonton Major Crimes Unit continue to solicit tips from anyone who may have noted someone suspicious in that area on October 6, 2017.  Any piece of information may become valuable in assisting to identify the suspect and solve this investigation.

 

October 8, 2017

*Update 3* – Thorsby/Bretton RCMP Investigate Fatal Pedestrian Hit and Run

Thorsby, Alberta – The RCMP continue to investigate the fatal hit and run collision occurring on October 6, 2017 at a Fas Gas service station in Thorsby, Alberta.  Extensive efforts have been made to locate the white 2006 Ford cube van; however, the suspect vehicle has yet to be located.

Mr. Ki Yun Jo has been identified as the victim in this incident.  The 54 year old was the owner/operator of the service station.  Investigators and family are reaching out to the public for information which may help identify suspects or locate the suspect vehicle.

The suspect vehicle in this case was stolen from Spruce Grove on October 6, 2017 at approximately 2:00 p.m. before driving to Thorsby.  If anyone observed the suspect vehicle in Spruce Grove during this time they are encouraged to please call the Thorsby/Breton RCMP at (780)789-3951.

 

October 6, 2017

*Update 2* Thorsby/Breton RCMP Investigate Fatal Pedestrian Hit and Run

Thorsby, Alberta – Investigators are releasing a photograph of a suspect vehicle believed to have been involved in a fatal hit and run in Thorsby earlier today.

The suspect vehicle is described as being a medium sized white commercial vehicle cube van with unique decaling on the side.  The vehicle is believed to have been stolen.

If you have information about this incident or vehicle, please call the Thorsby/Breton RCMP at (780)789-3951.

 

October 6, 2017

*Update 1* Thorsby/Breton RCMP Investigate Fatal Pedestrian Hit and Run

Thorsby, Alberta – The Next of Kin of the victim have been notified and more information may now be shared.

At 3:45 p.m., a medium sized commercial vehicle failed to pay for its gas at the Fas Gas service station in Thorsby.  As the vehicle drove away an employee of the gas station attempted to stop or gain the attention of the driver.  The employee was subsequently struck by the vehicle and the vehicle fled the scene.

The 54 year old victim succumbed to his injuries on scene.

Efforts to locate the suspect vehicle are underway.  Further information regarding the vehicle will be released once confirmed.

 

October 6, 2017

Thorsby/Breton RCMP Investigate Fatal Pedestrian Hit and

Thorsby, Alberta – The Thorsby/Breton RCMP are currently on scene of a fatal hit and run collision involving a pedestrian.  The collision occurred at approximately 3:45 P.M. near the Thorsby Fas Gas.  A medium sized commercial vehicle was seen leaving the collision and has yet to be located.

The next of kin has not been notified and investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision continues.

Details regarding the suspect vehicle will be forthcoming as soon as details are known.

For more stories visit Todayville.com

Todayville is a digital media and technology company. We profile unique stories and events in our community. Register and promote your community event for free.

Follow Author

Addictions

British Columbia should allow addicts to possess even more drugs, federal report suggests

Published on

From LifeSiteNews

By Clare Marie Merkowsky

Despite the drug crisis only getting worse in British Columbia after decriminalization, a federal report by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research advocates for further relaxing its policy so addicts can possess even more drugs.

Despite the drug crisis only worsening since decriminalization, federal researchers are now advocating for British Columbia to allow the possession of even larger quantities of cocaine, claiming that current possession limits don’t allow addicts to buy enough.

According to a federal report published April 23 by Blacklock’s Reporter, the current decriminalization program in British Columbia approved by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has set cocaine possession limits “too low.”

“People who use drugs are less concerned about being arrested and feel more comfortable carrying substances they need,” said the report by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. “The threshold of 2.5 grams is too low and is unreflective of users’ substance use and purchasing patterns.” 

Under the policy, which launched in early 2023, the federal government began allowing people within the province to possess up to 2.5 grams of hard drugs – including cocaine, opioids, ecstasy and methamphetamine – without criminal penalty, but selling drugs remained a crime.   

The policy has been widely criticized, especially after it was found that the province broke three different drug-related overdose records in the first month the new law was in effect.   

However, now researchers are claiming that the new policy is insufficient for drug users.   

“People who use drugs indicated the 2.5 gram threshold is too low and unreflective of their substance use patterns,” the report stated. “Although some people indicated the policy wouldn’t impact their purchasing patterns because they are unable to purchase large amounts at a time, others suggested it may force them to seek out substances more frequently which could increase their risk of harms.”  

“Buying in bulk may be more economical particularly for people who use drugs,” it continued, adding that it was “common practice to purchase in bulk and split or share among peers.”  

The recommendation comes as deaths from drug overdoses in Canada have gone through the roof in recent years, particularly in British Columbia.  

Gunn says he documents the “general societal chaos and explosion of drug use in every major Canadian city.”   

“Overdose deaths are up 1,000 percent in the last 10 years,” he said in his film, adding that “[e]very day in Vancouver four people are randomly attacked.”   

Similarly, even Liberals have begun to condemn Trudeau’s “safe supply” program, linking them to “chaos” in cities.  

Safe supply“ is the term used to refer to government-prescribed drugs that are given to addicts under the assumption that a more controlled batch of narcotics reduces the risk of overdose – critics of the policy argue that giving addicts drugs only enables their behavior, puts the public at risk, disincentivizes recovery from addiction and has not reduced, and sometimes even increased, overdose deaths where implemented.    

Last week, Liberal MP Dr. Marcus Powlowski revealed that violence from drug users has become a problem in Ottawa, especially in areas near so-called “safe supply” drug sites which operate within blocks of Parliament Hill.    

“A few months ago I was downtown in a bar here in Ottawa, not that I do that very often, but a couple of colleagues I met up with, one was assaulted as he was going to the bar, another one was threatened,” said Powlowski.   

“Within a month of that I was returning down Wellington Street from downtown, the Rideau Centre, and my son who is 15 was coming after me,” he continued. “It was nighttime and there was someone out in the middle of the street, yelling and screaming, accosting cars.”  

Continue Reading

Crime

Canadian receives one-year jail sentence, lifetime firearms ban for setting church on fire

Published on

From LifeSiteNews

By Anthony Murdoch

Jordan Willet was convicted of starting a blaze in February at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Regina, Saskatchewan.

A man who was charged with arson after trying to burn down a historic Catholic church earlier this year was handed only a one-year jail sentence for his crime but has also been banned from being able to possess firearms for life.

On April 9, a court sentenced Jordan Willet, 31, to 278 days in jail for intentionally or recklessly causing damage by fire or explosion to property and for not complying with a probation order. In February, LifeSiteNews reported that Willet had been arrested and charged with starting a fire at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Regina, Saskatchewan, on February 9.

He pleaded guilty to both charges and also received an 18-month probation sentence along with a lifetime firearm prohibition.

Over the weekend, Fr. James Hentges, the parish pastor, said he was “relieved he is in custody and is not a threat.”

The parish had posted footage of the February 9 attack on social media and put out a plea for anyone who had information on the event to report it to police.

The video footage of the attack, taken from a doorbell camera, shows Willet, in a mask, pouring fuel on the church before setting it on fire.

Fire investigators determined that the blaze was caused by a direct act of arson.

Since the spring of 2021, more than 100 churches, most of them Catholic, have been burned or vandalized across Canada. The attacks on the churches came shortly after the unconfirmed discovery of “unmarked graves” at now-closed residential schools once run by the Church in parts of the country.

In 2021 and 2022, the mainstream media ran with inflammatory and dubious claims that hundreds of children were buried and disregarded by Catholic priests and nuns who ran some of the schools.

The claims, which were promoted by Trudeau among others, lack any physical evidence and were based solely on soil disturbances found via ground-penetrating radar.

In fact, in August 2023, one such site underwent a four-week excavation and yielded no remains.

Despite the lack of evidence, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and others have continued to push the narrative, even running a report recently that appeared to justify the dozens of attacks against Catholic churches.

In January, Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre not only condemned the rash of church burnings in Canada but called out Trudeau for being silent on the matter.

Continue Reading

Trending

X