Watertown man charged after High Street standoff, police say

Jordan Biccum, 34, of 301 High Street in Watertown, was charged with multiple offenses after police said he threatened officers with a knife and barricaded himself inside a High Street apartment during an Oct. 20 standoff.

Police charged Biccum with second-degree arson, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, menacing a police officer, making a terroristic threat, criminal obstruction of breathing, resisting arrest, second-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree menacing and second-degree harassment. He was arraigned and is being held without bail in the Jefferson County jail.

Police said officers went to arrest Biccum after an alleged Oct. 18 incident at 142 Mechanic Street involving a 23-year-old woman. Police allege that Biccum strangled and punched the woman and displayed a knife. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

During the attempted arrest Tuesday afternoon in the 300 block of High Street, police said Biccum fled into his apartment, brandished a knife, threatened officers and barricaded himself inside. Negotiators spoke with him through an open first-floor window, police said.

Police also alleged that Biccum threatened to burn the house down, break gas lines and blow up the home. Police said curtains inside the apartment caught fire while negotiators were speaking with him. The standoff ended when Biccum surrendered. Earlier accounts placed its duration at about an hour, while a later account said it lasted about two hours.

The incident involved the Watertown Police Department, city firefighters and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. Nearby homes were evacuated during the response. Earlier information placed the evacuation effort at about 3:25 p.m. and said Biccum came out several minutes later.

The Watertown Police Department's 2025 annual report recorded 1,077 disorderly-conduct calls, including 129 domestic-abuse calls, and 898 welfare checks. The report said the department had 24 patrol officers working across three shifts, and that every officer had completed Crisis Intervention Team training.

Updates may be issued through the Watertown Police Department's media releases. Information can be requested from the department at (315) 782-2233 or from the court clerk. Anyone facing an emergency should call 911.