Only On 2: Mother Of Arson, Attempted Murder Suspect Fatally Shot By Police Speaks Out
TORRANCE (CBSLA.com) — The mother of an arson/attempted murder suspect fatally shot by police Thursday is speaking out.
In a story Only On CBS2, Andrea Dolak spoke to Melanie Woodrow about her son, Asa James Dolak.
Authorities said Torrance Police were conducting a search of Madrona Middle School in Torrance when they discovered Dolak, a man matching the description of an attempted murder and arson suspect earlier in the day. He was hiding in a girls' restroom about 1:30 p.m.
Police said Dolak was armed with a knife and led them on a brief chase.
The suspect was shot dead about five minutes later.
Authorities said Dolak, 19, was responsible for two arsons and the attempted murder of a 2-year-old -- his son -- earlier in the day.
Officials said Dolak unlawfully entered an apartment belonging to an ex-girlfriend around 12:15 a.m. Thursday morning. Inside the apartment, located in the 16700 block of Crenshaw Boulevard, they said Dolak threatened to kill the ex and the 2-year-old boy.
Police said the ex was able to escape but that Dolak set the apartment on fire with the boy still inside.
Firefighters were able to recover the boy and rescue him. He was treated for smoke inhalation and is now reportedly in stable condition.
Dolak reportedly then went to his mother's resident in the 3200 block of Opal Avenue at around 2 a.m. where he set a second fire. No injuries were reported in the second blaze.
Andrea Dolak says her son was mis-wired and needed help.
She told Woodrow that she never imagined the restraining order his loved ones got to protect themselves would end with him being shot and killed by police. Or that her grandson could have been killed.
About her son, Dolak said, "He felt all of the last of his family was gone, that we had all turned on him"
The family felt they had no choice but to get a restraining order against him.
"Asa had ups and downs. Cycles," she said.
His mother says it never should have come to the fatal ending.
"If they would have just picked him up for the restraining order violation he could be in jail. But he'd be alive," Dolak said.
In a statement, Torrance police confirmed: "A misdemeanor crime report was completed involving Dolak and his ex-girlfriend on Christmas Day but due to the holiday, it had not been assigned or investigated by detectives prior to the attempted murder/arsons."
"I don't want him dead and there's not a thing I can do to undo it," Dolak's mother said.
