Scammer
Banned
The son of former Newfoundland premier Brian Tobin is in police custody after his friend was run over early Friday morning by a pickup truck in a Byward Market parking garage.
Alex Zolpis, 24, of Ottawa died after being pinned under a Dodge Ram truck on the 24-hour garage's top floor around 3 a.m. He died minutes after emergency workers arrived.
Police said John (Jack) Tobin, also 24, was taken into custody to be questioned. Police also said the driver is scheduled to appear in court Saturday, but they didn't say whether the driver was Tobin.
The driver and the victim knew each other, according to police.
"There were witnesses at the scene, as well as witnesses in the vicinity who heard or saw, so all these people are being interviewed at this point," Ottawa police spokesperson Kathy Larouche said.
Larouche said alcohol appeared to have been a factor.
An aide to Brian Tobin would only reply "no comment" when asked if his son Jack was involved in the accident.
But in a statement issued by the former premier, the former premier said his family extended their "deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of Alex Zolpis.
"We cannot begin to describe our profound sadness as Alex and our son Jack have been the best of friends for many years. These two young men were very close. Alex's tragic death is devastating for two families," Tobin said.
"We love Jack and will support him as he faces the many difficult days ahead," the statement added.
Gerard Maloney, who works for Vinci Park, the company that runs the garage, was one of the first people to arrive on the scene.
"I never expected to see a body," Maloney said.
He said Vinci employs a security firm to patrol the garage, but drugs, drinking and stunt driving have been problems at the garage in the past.
"I can't even believe it," said Gabrielle O'Brien, who has sold flowers from a stand across from parking garage for the past 11 years.
"I've heard of no deaths.… I've heard of thefts and drinking and drugging in there, but that's enough."
