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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Policeman declines to resign from Ely force

Jason Carlson remains on city payroll pending felony sex charges

Keith Vandervort
Posted 11/18/15

ELY – Ely police officer Jason Carlson has declined the city’s offer to pay him his accrued sick time and vacation pay in exchange for his resignation. He will remain on paid administrative leave …

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Policeman declines to resign from Ely force

Jason Carlson remains on city payroll pending felony sex charges

Posted

ELY – Ely police officer Jason Carlson has declined the city’s offer to pay him his accrued sick time and vacation pay in exchange for his resignation. He will remain on paid administrative leave while his felony sexual conduct charge is settled in court.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $30,000 fine. Carlson’s next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 21.

Carlson was indicted earlier this month for allegedly engaging in sexual contact with a girl under the age of 18.

City Council members directed city attorney Kelly Klun to negotiate a structured resignation agreement with Sgt. Carlson, 37, who has been on paid administrative leave since the allegations came to light last April.

He has accrued more than $22,000 in benefits pay. The 10-year veteran is paid $27.26 per hour, plus health insurance and other benefits.

“Mr. Carlson has declined our offer and is unwilling to resign,” Klun said this week. The offer was on the table until Nov. 13.

“At this point, I suggest we request data documentation as related to the charges to seek more information,” she said.

Carlson was indicted by a grand jury on one felony count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct on Oct. 14. The charge was made public at that time when Carlson made his initial appearance in court.

He is accused of engaging in sexual relations with a minor while he was in a position of authority over her. The young woman was at least 16 but younger than 18 at the time of the alleged incident about a year ago.

The indictment alleges that Carlson engaged in sexual penetration with the girl. Carlson, of Aurora, is a patrol sergeant and 10-year veteran of the Ely police force.

Klun said the county prosecutor told her that no information regarding the criminal complaint would be made available to the city until the case is settled. “It is my understanding that (Carlson’s) counsel has all the documentation already and it may be possible to get the information that way so we can understand the nature of the allegations and charges,” Klun said.

She said a jury trial would likely start sometime next spring or summer. If found guilty of the charge, Carlson would be terminated from his position with the city and would not collect his accrued sick and vacation pay.

She asked the court if the case could be expedited. “They indicated that next spring is the earliest it could go to trial. All the documentation is there so shouldn’t be a long process. Often times things get continued so it will be spring or summer before this is settled,” she said. She expects the case to go to trial.

“We requested from the (police) union that Mr. Carlson be placed on unpaid leave and they said they would object to that,” Klun said. “We have also asked that (Carlson) take a discretionary leave, in essence, on his own accord, during this issue, and that also was rejected,” she said.

In a related matter, the council granted Police Chief John Lahtonen’s request this week to move probationary police officers Tome Jerome and Troy Mealy to full-time status.

Water extension agreement

Council members reversed course this week and unanimously approved a committee recommendation to work toward the extension of municipal water to four Superfund residential properties on Bulinski Point, also referred to as Brisson’s Point, on Shagawa Lake.

Earlier this month, the council rejected, on a 6-1 vote, a recommendation that was forwarded by city, Morse Township and Ely Utilities Commission representatives. Council member Al Forsman, who represented the city on the task force, cast the lone vote in favor of the recommendation. Other task force members included the EUC’s Terry Soderberg and Tony Colarich, along with Len Cersine from Morse.

Clerk-Treasurer Harold Langowski was directed to seek an opinion from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency on the issue and the answer from that agency apparently hit home with the council and helped them to reverse their decision.

In the letter dated Nov. 12, MPCA project leader Eric Pederson said, before anything can happen, “the MPCA needs to know there has been an agreement reached between all involved parties. The MPCA needs this agreement and a decision on who would be the owner of the (water) line.”

Pederson indicated the MPCA wants to move forward in supplying clean drinking water to the affected residents. In addition to an assurance that all parties will work together, the MPCA also wants a feasibility study completed to ensure that the water line is the best long-term option.

Wells in the area were contaminated many decades ago by dry cleaning solvents stored in the area. The affected properties lie within the boundaries of Morse Township.

The feasibility study is needed for obtaining funding to offset costs for the project. City Council members have balked at taking on the project and called for the township to take the lead.

“If the feasibility study takes place, it is not guaranteed that the project will move forward,” Pederson said. “The MPCA considers the affected residents of the site to be protected and maintains regular monitoring and ensures protection with required change-outs of their (carbon filters).”

This week, Forsman repeated his point that the city is not committing to providing water to the residents. “Other than working toward an agreement, it has been my intention all along that we don’t change our policies, necessarily, but we find a way that we can work together to solve this problem,” he said.

Council member Paul Kess reiterated his opinion. “The solution is simple. If you want the benefit of city services, request annexation. Its as simple as that,” he said.