Edmonton Police have charged a man with arson relating to an early morning fire on Friday January 26 in the Queen Alexandra area on 79 Avenue 107 Street, South of Whyte Avenue.
Police accuse 44-year-old Jason Zabos of deliberately setting the fire that led to the hospitalization of half a dozen neighbours.
In an email on Friday, an EPS spokesperson said Zabos was in an hours-long standoff with officers who were on scene, “to assist another agency with carrying out a court order,”
Police say Zabos had, “barricaded himself in his suite,” between about 5 p.m. on Thursday, January 25 until he was apprehended at about 12:48 a.m. Friday. A fire broke out in Zabos apartment, police said at the time. According to an email send on Monday, police now accuse Zabos of deliberately setting that fire with a charge of arson disregard for human life. He also faces mischief, obstruction, and breach of court charges.
The blaze caused the apartment to be evacuated, and residents were sheltered in Edmonton Transit Service buses, while others were transported to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.
Police say Zabos was released from custody by a Justice of the Peace.
Below: Featured image “Flame” photo credit Liz West on Flickr.
