Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 26/01) - Bruce William Mabley admits he became dangerously disgruntled when a traffic violation led him to make death and bomb threats on Sept. 30.

Mabley, a 43-year-old avionics engineer who worked for Buffalo Airways, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four months in jail in territorial court on Monday.

"A few years ago bomb threats were considered pranks but times have changed," said judge Michel Bourassa.

During his sentencing Mabley, wearing a wrinkled green T-shirt and a long bushy beard, stood up to say, "It was the wrong thing to say at the wrong time."

"It is never the right time," Bourassa shot back.

Crown prosecutor Sandy Aitken testified that on the evening of Sept. 30 RCMP dispatch got a call from a man claiming he was going to kill a police officer.

The call was traced to Buffalo Airways and six RCMP officers were immediately dispatched to the business.

After interviewing several employees on site one officer recognized Mabley's voice and began to interview him.

Aitken said Mabley answered questions in gibberish and was unco-operative.

"He made death threats on the way to the detachment," Aiken said. "He also said he could blow up any building any time with diesel fuel and fertilizer."

Aiken added that while en route to the police detachment Mabley noted to police that he had placed a bomb within the RCMP detachment. This caused an immediate evacuation of the building while a social function was under way.

The building turned out to be clean and Mabley was put in cells, where he remained voluntarily until this week's sentencing. Mabley has lived in Yellowknife for 11 years and was living in a van in the Buffalo Airways parking lot when he was arrested.

At least one fellow colleague, who sat in court wearing camouflage clothing, told Yellowknifer Mabley is something of an avionics genius.

Mabley was stopped earlier that day for a traffic violation.

His defence lawyer said he felt powerless when the bylaw officer refused to allow him to get proper registration that was kept "a stone's throw away."

"Mr. Mabley has no explanation for his over-reaction," said Kelly Payne.

"But, (he) admits it was an over-reaction."

Bourassa sentenced Mabley to one more month than asked for by the Crown.

"We are free to do many things, including being stupid," he said. "But, in no way should people feel free to make ... threats with impunity."