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Tactical officers testified in the trial of Jason Zabos, accused of setting his Edmonton apartment building on fire, killing neighbour Ricardo Olivares and injuring seven others.
Several members of the Edmonton Police Service tactical unit testified at the trial of Jason Zabos, who is accused of setting his apartment building on fire, resulting in the death of his neighbour Ricardo Olivares. The incident occurred on Jan. 26, 2024, after an hours-long standoff between Zabos and police. The fire broke out in Zabos' suite around 12:45 a.m., leading to seven neighbours, including a toddler, being taken to hospital. Olivares' body was found in the charred remains of his suite on April 22, 2024, after his family reported him missing.
Events Leading to the Fire
The standoff began around 1 p.m. on Jan. 25, when a bailiff and the supervisor of the apartment building at 10745 79 Ave. NW attempted to serve Zabos with an eviction notice. Zabos then locked himself inside his ground-floor suite, prompting a police response. Tactical officers arrived and prepared to arrest him. According to testimony, officers had been briefed that Zabos had threatened to burn down the apartment and was suffering from mental health issues.
One tactical officer testified that he was standing outside the building when he saw Zabos light what appeared to be a Molotov cocktail and throw it on the floor of the bedroom. Officers attempted to extinguish the fire, but it spread rapidly, filling the building with thick smoke. Zabos was eventually removed by officers and arrested.
Tactical Team Officers Testify
A second member of the tactical team told the court that he breached the bedroom window of Zabos' suite and saw Zabos give him the middle finger with both hands. Zabos then disappeared from view, and shortly afterward, the officer saw an orange glow inside the suite. The fire spread quickly, and the officer could not hear fire alarms, so he began screaming that there was a fire and trying to evacuate other tenants. A tenant on a second-floor balcony indicated that he could not leave via the stairwell because of the smoke.
A third tactical officer, a 19-year veteran of the Edmonton Police Service, testified that he had never seen a fire spread as fast as the one in Zabos' suite. He noted that shortly after the fire broke out, there was only a foot of clearance in the stairwell between the ground and the smoke. He also stated that approximately $119,000 worth of police tools were lost in the fire, including a drone robot, breaching tool, ballistic shield, camera system, gas masks, and a ballistic helmet.
All officers testified that they had been informed that Zabos was suffering from mental health issues when they arrived at the scene. The trial is set to continue next week.
Background and Context
The fire at 10745 79 Ave. NW in Edmonton led to severe consequences for the residents. Seven people, including a toddler, were hospitalized due to smoke inhalation and injuries. The discovery of Ricardo Olivares' body nearly three months later highlighted the tragic outcome of the incident. The case has drawn attention to the challenges police face in dealing with individuals in mental health crises and the potential for escalation during eviction proceedings.
The testimony from the tactical unit provides insight into the rapid spread of the fire and the efforts of officers to manage the situation. The loss of $119,000 worth of specialized police equipment underscores the intensity of the fire. The trial continues as the court seeks to establish the full sequence of events and determine responsibility for the fire and Olivares' death.
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