Man taken into custody after allegedly threatening police with gun

WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWNY) - There were some tense moments between police and a man who allegedly threatened them with a gun.

It happened at a home at 809 Bronson Street in Watertown early Thursday afternoon.

According to city police, a man was on the phone with law enforcement, said he had a gun and threatened police if they responded.

“After hearing the threat, we did our best to clear the houses and keep people back,” said Detective Lieutenant Joe Donoghue of the Watertown Police Department.

A special response team rushed to the home with guns drawn.

Police said a negotiator and family member spoke with the man by phone to coax him to come out of the house peacefully, which he did. No weapons were displayed by the man.

Police later charged 27 year old Nicholas McKnight, who lives at 809 Bronson Street, with a misdemeanor count of second-degree obstructing governmental administration.

According to a news release issued by city police late Thursday afternoon, McKnight wouldn’t let parole officers into his home to perform a mandated house check as a condition of his community supervision.

Police also said he “further hindered their entry by telling them he had a gun.”

Police said McKnight is being held in the Jefferson County Jail on a parole violation. Police said they did not find a gun.

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