HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-07-25 Public Comment - M. Spogis - Written followup from Monday's Oct 3rd public comment (Com Dev)From:MaryEllen Spogis
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Written followup from Monday"s Oct 3rd public comment
Date:Thursday, November 6, 2025 6:19:31 PM
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Dear Community Development Board Members,
As chair board member Mr Epple stated in last Monday's meeting, providing written public
comment holds more authority than spoken comments. This is a follow up to my publiccomments regarding my experience being accosted and harassed by the same citizen who had
just morally attacked the community members. Please know at that time, I had no idea whothis man was. I later learned he is Matt Paine. I had no intent of character defamation. My
words were only the result of observing his behavior on the Gallagator bike trail and in themeeting.
On July 29th, 2025 in the afternoon, with rain approaching, I was riding my Ebike from the
point of S. Church/Sourdough Rd, approaching the S Black spur, where S Black deadends. Hewas on an unassisted high end matte finish bike, coming off that spur. As I passed on my
ebike, I smiled at him and said, 'think we'll miss the rain?' He came completely unhinged andbegan screaming nonsense at me. He maliciously went on a tirade about what a worthless
person I was, attacking my character in varied deviations. He shouted his rants along the lines,'I was a self centered white privileged woman, who thought I was above the rules of society,
as there 'are signs stating no Ebikes on the trail'. As we know they are welcomed on theGalagator trails, thus there are no signs. He followed me very closely, yelling similar insults
until the Langohr garden. It was the same rhetoric that I witnessed in his public comments onOctober 3rd.
Previously, at the Cleveland St crosswalk I stopped, hoping he would continue on. Instead, he
got directly, perhaps inches, behind my head, shouting with much anger that I was ignoringhim, and continued to rant on this topic. I made it to the west side of the public gardens, and
sought safety with an older man and his two dogs. He felt safe to me, and was wonderingwhat all the yelling was about. At this point Paine rode off. I spoke with the calm,
safe gentleman for about 10 mins. I then called the police, and filed a report. I wonder ifthere are other harassment cases filed against Paine? I know confidentiality precludes knowing
this.
Please also know, Matt Paine called me on my cell phone the following morning , October4th. When he stated his name I hung up and blocked him. Unfortunately, I did not realize
blocking on an Iphone didn't transfer to my computer where he had texted me. Notsurprisingly he denies my entire account. Also to note, he rode in off the S Black spur, having
previously stated he lives on S Black. I am 100% sure he is the same man who harassed theBozeman citizens on Monday. He appears to be an unstable, mentally ill person.
I have never felt afraid, or fearful in the 43 years I've lived here. I do now. I'm guessing he
knows where I live. I filed a second police report Tuesday after he had called and texted me.The officer said there is nothing that can be done, as it is not a criminal case.
I hope I have been able to provide an objective account of my experience. I know you cannotpass moral judgement when he comes to the Board, presenting in his role as a real estate
developer for his projects. It is also my hope that possible other accounts of abuse by this manwill further be substantiated with this report.
I extend much appreciation for taking this written statement to illuminate, in my view, a very
malevolent, disconcerting and dangerous person.
Sincerely,
Mary Ellen M Spogis