Categories: CampusCityNews

Student’s attacker arrested

After a reported assault on a student Wednesday afternoon, Pitt Police have arrested Jon S. Mattison on one count of indecent assault, one count of unlawful restraint and one count of simple assault.

Police arrested Mattison, a Homestead resident with no University affiliation, for assaulting Pitt sophomore Stephanie Kong. Mattison is a registered sex offender and has an “extensive criminal history” in Allegheny County, Pitt spokesman John Fedele said in an email. According to the Pennsylvania State Police website, Mattison was most recently charged with indecent assault in 2009.

Mattison accosted Kong on Wednesday, April 29 at 1:40 p.m., according to police, at a Port Authority bus stop in front of the William Pitt Union.

Kong, a psychology major, said Mattison approached her after he helped swat a bee that was bothering her at the bus stop. Mattison then hugged Kong several times.

“I didn’t know if he was just one of those people, just being overly friendly,” Kong said.

While hugging her, Kong said Mattison groped her and began asking Kong for directions downtown. He then “forced [Kong] into the bus hub,” Kong said, by grabbing her backpack from behind.

The man left after Kong gave him directions, but returned and started asking her personal information and grabbing her again by her hair. Kong said she struggled to get free and then ran to the Union to call the police.

Fedele said Kong declined treatment at the scene.

Pitt Police cooperated with staff from Allegheny County Adult Probation and Parole to arrest Mattison, Fedele said.

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated.

Pitt News Staff

Share
Published by
Pitt News Staff

Recent Posts

Police blotter: March 21 to March 27

Thursday, March 21 An individual from the parking department reported one of their boot systems…

1 hour ago

Pitt athletics finish March with a full weekend

As the weekend approaches, Pitt athletics prepares for a pivotal weekend of conference play and…

3 hours ago

Take 4 | NFL rule changes, Steelers and Caleb Williams

In this week’s Take 4, The Pitt News Sports Desk gives its take on the…

3 hours ago

Opinion | My first time out of the country was life-changing and yours can be too

I always wanted to travel abroad. I always imagined myself going out of the country…

3 hours ago

Opinion | I am media literate and also don’t like ‘Poor Things’

Not only was “Poor Things” a personally unpleasant watch, but the story and certain choices…

3 hours ago

Carnegie Museum spotlights conservation efforts in latest Ancient Egypt exhibition

The Carnegie Museum of Natural History revealed its newly revamped Ancient Egypt collection in early…

4 hours ago