Man in custody after hours long standoff on Watertown’s Bronson Street

WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) - A man is in custody tonight following a more than 2-hour standoff in Watertown.

The incident occurred on the 800 block of Bronson Street for much of Saturday afternoon as law enforcement from both the Watertown Police department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office tried to talk to the man who barricaded himself inside a residence.

Watertown Detective Sergeant Joe Giaquinto tells 7 News they attempted to negotiate with the 37-year-old male several times before the situation became “a public safety concern” when the male threatened to set the home on fire. Giaquinto also said he could not comment if the man possessed any weapons.

That is when the sheriff’s office brought in its Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle, or MRAP, to help with making entry into the home.

Once in position to do so, officers had assault weapons drawn, and were seen breaking windows and throwing in smoke canisters to try and subdue the suspect.

Officers were eventually able to make entry, remove the subject from the home, and take him into an ambulance. He was transported to Samaritan Medical Center for further evaluation.

Giaquinto says there are no charges at this time, and first responders are expected to be on scene for a while longer as they began to process and document the inside of the home. The road will remain closed during that time.

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