The subject of a three-week police search for allegedly firing multiple shots during a foot chase along Meadville’s East Alley is in custody and facing charges carrying maximum penalties of almost 175 years in prison and more than $400,000 in fines.

A joint investigation conducted by the Meadville Police Department and the Erie office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation resulted in the arrest late Friday morning of Ellis Herbert Munson, 35, of 1073 Liberty St., Meadville.

Munson was arraigned Friday afternoon before Meadville Area Magisterial District Judge William Chisholm on six counts each of aggravated assault, simple assault and reckless endangerment; three counts each of criminal attempt to commit murder and making terroristic threats; and one count each of committing crimes with firearms and discharging firearms in the city.

If convicted on all counts, Munson could be sentenced to a maximum of 174 years in prison and fines totaling $400,010. Each of the three counts of criminal attempt to commit murder carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years; the summary city offense involving the discharge of firearms within city limits carries a mandatory $10 fine.

Friday afternoon, Munson was committed to the Crawford County jail, Saegertown, in lieu of $50,000 bail; a preliminary hearing has been scheduled for June 6.

Acting on a tip that Munson had been in contact with an individual living in Meadville’s William Gill Commons public housing complex, law enforcement personnel went to the individual’s residence, according to a statement released Friday by police. After police learned during the interview that the suspect was hiding in an upstairs bedroom, he was taken into custody without incident.

According to court papers, the chain of events leading to Munson’s arrest began during the early-morning hours of April 26 when the victim, a Meadville resident, was allegedly walking home along East Alley, which runs parallel to Liberty Street, and heard his girlfriend talking with the suspect.

Munson allegedly became confrontational with the victim, threatening to shoot him. The suspect then allegedly entered his Liberty Street residence and came back outside carrying a .30-caliber rifle. After Munson allegedly pointed the weapon in the direction of the victim and the victim’s girlfriend, the victim ran and Munson allegedly chased him.

During the chase, Munson allegedly fired the rifle at least three times. Although none of the rounds struck the victim, the victim allegedly fell to the ground on at least one occasion, injuring his shoulder.

After the victim entered an apartment in the Fairmont/Fairview public housing complex, Munson allegedly fled on foot. Police were summoned to the area of East Alley and Fairmont Avenue at 2:41 a.m. to investigate a report that shots had been fired. A brief investigation led them to the victim, who was in an apartment at the complex.