[Yogi]

Update: Tom is in really good spirits. Bound and determined that he 'will ride again'. Soon! Of this I have no doubt.

ETS bus driver Tom Bregg, pictured here, was viciously beaten by passenger Gary Edwin Mattson Dec. 3. Originally charged with attempted murder, Mattson pleaded guilty Thursday to aggravated assault. The Crown will be seeking to have Mattson declared a dangerous offender. (AMBER BRACKEN/Edmonton Sun) An Edmonton man has admitted brutally stomping the face of an ETS bus driver into a curb in an attack that “horrified” witnesses who described it as “difficult to watch.”

Gary Edwin Mattson, 25, pleaded guilty Thursday in provincial court to one count of aggravated assault.

He had been charged with attempted murder for the vicious Dec. 3 attack, which happened about 7:30 a.m. near 139 Avenue and Victoria Trail, but the Crown plans to withdraw that charge in exchange for the guilty plea.

The Crown also told court it will be seeking to have Mattson declared a dangerous offender, which would result in him being handed an indefinite prison sentence.

The courtroom was packed with bus drivers — including disfigured victim Tom Bregg — other ETS staff, police officers, Mattson’s mother and media.

Mattson also pleaded guilty to assaulting a peace officer for spitting at a city police officer following his arrest.

According to police statements from eyewitnesses to the stomping attack, Mattson had got onto the No. 10 bus driven by Bregg, 58, after running up and banging on the window.

After being let on, Mattson got into a dispute with Bregg about paying the fare and then began yelling and swearing at the long-time bus driver.

Bregg then stopped the bus and told Mattson to get off and he responded by punching the driver in the face several times, knocking him unconscious.

The “agitated and hostile” man then grabbed the driver by the collar and threw him off the bus into a curb, where he stomped on his face “as hard as he could” more than a dozen times before running away.

Mattson was arrested a short time later after returning to a nearby apartment to which police had earlier been called to regarding a complaint of a drunk man.

Residents at the 13866 27 St. suite described Mattson as being “very intoxicated” and “acting violently.” They said he had got into an early-morning fight with a woman.

At the time of Mattson’s arrest, police described him as “belligerent” and said he was swearing and threatening officers .

Court heard that when an officer told Mattson he could be facing an attempted murder charge, he simply responded by telling him to shut up and demanding a sandwich.

When Mattson heard the statement read into the court record, he laughed.

Bregg has worked for ETS since 1976 and is also a motorcycle safety instructor.

Court heard he was in intensive care in hospital for 16 days following the attack, which left him barely recognizable, and was then transferred to the Glenrose rehabilitation centre. Bregg has since undergone two reconstructive surgeries on his face, and one on his eyes, and is awaiting further surgery. He is not currently driving buses.

Thursday’s hearing was not completed because Mattson’s defence lawyer had to attend a funeral and a continuation date is slated to be set Friday.

[email protected]

[Monkeyman]

"Court heard that when an officer told Mattson he could be facing an attempted murder charge, he simply responded by telling him to shut up and demanding a sandwich."

Wow...

[Dragom]

'witnesses who described it as “difficult to watch.”'

I loath the sheepish nature of my fellow humans.

[PublicAnimalNo9]

Glad to hear Tom is doing better Yogi. It's been awhile so thanks for the update.
I hope they stick that piece of shit Mattson with the HARSHEST possible sentence with ZERO chance of parole.

On the other hand, I heard there's some starving polar bears in the arctic.

[Brenda]

PublicAnimalNo9 PublicAnimalNo9:

Glad to hear Tom is doing better Yogi. It's been awhile so thanks for the update.
I hope they stick that piece of shit Mattson with the HARSHEST possible sentence with ZERO chance of parole.

On the other hand, I heard there's some starving polar bears in the arctic.

Ditto.

[Yogi]

Thanks. I'll oass your wishes on to Tom.

If the POS gets D.O. designation, he's gonna be gone for a loooong time. We can only hope!

[Regina]

Yogi Yogi:

Thanks. I'll oass your wishes on to Tom.

If the POS gets D.O. designation, he's gonna be gone for a loooong time. We can only hope!

Be nicer if he got a taste of his own medicine at the hands of his new peers.

[Bodah]

Here's a pic of the tough guy.



Have fun in jail when they find out your the one who beats old men nearly to death.

[Choban]

Good luck to Doug in his further recovery, I hope this Mattison guy rots.

[Yogi]

Regina Regina:

Yogi Yogi:

Thanks. I'll oass your wishes on to Tom.

If the POS gets D.O. designation, he's gonna be gone for a loooong time. We can only hope!

Be nicer if he got a taste of his own medicine at the hands of his new peers.

I 'hear' that this guy is 'in serious trouble' along these lines already. Still not good enough. After all, he made his latest court appearance under his own steam!

[Regina]

Wow......that happened a few blocks from my brother in-law's house.

[Yogi]

Regina Regina:

Wow......that happened a few blocks from my brother in-law's house.

Clareview is just a 'suburb' to North Ed now.

[ShepherdsDog]

Somehow I don't think the guards will be in too much of a hurry if some other inmates decide to do some soft shoe.

[Bodah]

Dragom Dragom:

'witnesses who described it as “difficult to watch.”'

I loath the sheepish nature of my fellow humans.

Me too, "difficult to watch" was their concious telling them to get off their ass and do something.

A bus full of people and they do shit.

[Regina]

Yogi Yogi:

Regina Regina:

Wow......that happened a few blocks from my brother in-law's house.

Clareview is just a 'suburb' to North Ed now.

I didn't know the name of the burb, but I've spent a few Christmas holidays there in the past 10 years. It looked like a pretty good area with fairly new houses around there. He's in one of the cresents a few blocks south of VT and 139 which I believe is where it happened.