Man who killed gas station owner in gas-and-dash arrested on drugs, weapons charges

The man convicted in the 2017 death of Thorsby gas station owner Ki Yun Jo is facing new drugs and weapons charges.

Three people have been charged in what police are calling a “significant” drug bust in southern Alberta, including an Edmonton-area man who is on statutory release after killing a man in 2017.

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Drumheller RCMP stopped a vehicle on Highway 56 on Wednesday evening for a traffic infraction.

Mounties say the driver had an outstanding warrant and was arrested.

While police were searching the vehicle, they reportedly found more than a pound of methamphetamine.

The other two men in the vehicle were also arrested.

The following items were also found in the vehicle:

• 600 pills of various types;
• a large quantity of cash;
• two firearms, one of which was loaded;
• suspected cannabis and cocaine; and
• various weapons.

Mitchell Sydlowski, 34, of St. Albert, Sheldon Blyan, 49, of Edmonton, and a 73-year-old man from Edmonton were charged with a number of offences, including:

• three counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking;
• possession of a restricted firearm and ammunition;
• unauthorized possession of firearm;
• possession of a dangerous weapon; and
• breaches of their court orders.

Sydlowski, previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the 2017 death of Ki Yun Jo, 54.

He sped off from Jo’s Thorsby, Alta. gas station in a stolen cube van without paying for nearly $200 worth of gas.

Jo tried to confront him and was run over by the van.

Jo’s death prompted the Alberta government to pass legislation requiring drivers to prepay before filling up at gas stations.

Sydlowski received statutory release after serving two-thirds of his sentence in Jo’s death.

Blyan was also charged with manslaughter and robbery with a firearm in the 2020 death of Darrin Dean Cross in Edmonton.

Both charges were later stayed.

The three men remain in custody and will appear in court in Drumheller on June 13.