ELY- Just one month after he was sentenced for setting his own house on fire, convicted arsonist Jason Keith Gillson is back in county lockup, without bail.
The Ely Police Department arrested Gillson on Saturday evening, Feb. 8, on a felony parole violation and a gross misdemeanor charge of interfering with a 911 call, along with a misdemeanor for domestic assault.
The Ely police responded to an assault call from Gillson’s Boundary St. residence, where Gillson’s girlfriend alleged he had thrown her on the floor and ripped her jacket during an argument and tried to prevent her from calling 911. She also claimed he had “a handgun in his waistband.”
Gillson confirmed they had argued but denied that he prevented her from calling 911. He also denied touching her. The Ely PD did not locate any firearms at Gillson’s home but did confirm the jacket was ripped.
If the court determines that Gillson violated his parole, then his current plea bargain agreement could well be revoked. Under the plea arrangement, he would serve a split sentence of five years supervised probation, 270 days incarceration, and mandatory substance abuse treatment. He must report to serve his jail time on April 1.
If the plea bargain is voided, Gillson may be sent to the St. Cloud Correctional Facility to serve up to three years on three felony charges: arson, assault of a peace officer, and discharging a firearm within city limits.
Gillson’s plea bargain stems from two altercations with his girlfriend at his Boundary St. residence on Aug. 20 and Sept. 13, 2023. On Aug. 20, while trying to stop her from leaving his house, he shot his garage door and the tires of his girlfriend’s car. On Sept. 13, he shot both her wallet and cell phone, set his own house on fire, and fled from the scene in a panel truck, resulting in a police chase from Ely to Embarrass.
Gillson does not yet have any hearings scheduled for the Saturday evening incident.

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