ELY- An alleged domestic altercation in Ely led to a fire and a police pursuit involving a significant law enforcement response around 11 a.m. on Wednesday, as the Timberjay prepared to go to press. Given the chaos surrounding the incident, details were sketchy in the immediate aftermath.
According to scanner traffic reviewed by the Timberjay, a domestic incident escalated quickly on Wednesday as one resident of the single-family residence, located at 45 E. Boundary Street, set the home ablaze. County records show the house is owned by Jason Keith Gillson.
The Ely Fire Department dispatched multiple units to extinguish the structure fire, which appears to have been confined mostly to the interior. The extent of the damage was not known as of press time. Most of the firefighters had left the fire scene by 1 p.m. 
An occupant of the home, identified on scanner traffic only as “Gillson,” fled the residence in a white panel truck. He left a shotgun in the yard but was presumed by law enforcement to be armed with a handgun. Gillson drove down Cty. Rd. 21 toward Babbitt, sparking a high-speed pursuit by multiple law enforcement agencies including the East Range Police, the Babbitt PD, the Ely PD, and the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office.
The driver turned right on County Road 904 north of Babbitt with law enforcement in hot pursuit. Then the driver abandoned the vehicle, with at least one tire blown out, approximately 1,000 yards from the intersection of the Virginia-Ely Road and Cty. Rd. 583 in Waasa Township. From there, he fled on foot across a field with police officers still in pursuit. The Timberjay received multiple verbal reports that the fugitive was tased as he was subdued. The Babbitt Ambulance responded to the pursuit scene to transport the driver after he was taken into custody.
Police Chief Chad Houde was on scene documenting the incident. He had no comment as of the Timberjay’s press time, noting that the incident was still under active investigation.
Gillson was involved in another unusual incident last month, which resulted in felony charges, including discharging a firearm in city limits. A woman occupant of the home called 911 around 3 p.m., on Aug. 20, stating that Gillson was holding her hostage, causing the Ely PD to respond to the scene. Gillson allegedly also shot out the front tires of a vehicle parked in front of the home as the woman tried to drive away. He also discharged a shotgun at the garage door.
The Timberjay will have more on this incident as details become available.