Montgomery Co. Sheriff: Amsterdam man charged after standoff

Joseph M. Piasecki Jr. - Credit: Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, file

TOWN OF FLORIDA – An Amsterdam man has been arrested after a standoff at his residence related to gun threat allegations from Christmas Eve, Montgomery County Sheriff’s officials said in a release Friday.

Joseph M. Piasecki Jr., 47, of Amsterdam, faces one count of second-degree attempted assault, a felony, along with two counts of second-degree menacing and one count of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, misdemeanors.

Piasecki was arrested at his residence on a warrant issued by a Town of Florida judge, sheriff’s officials said.

The warrant related to allegations that Piasecki threatened two family members with two separate firearms Dec. 24 and then barricaded himself inside of his residence, officials said.

The Regional Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office-Amsterdam Police Department SWAT team then responded to assist those on scene. After multiple attempts to have him exit voluntarily, members of the SWAT team then entered and took Piasecki into custody without incident, officials said.

Piasecki was arraigned and released to return to court later. Two orders of protection protecting the two victims were also issued.

The sheriff’s office was assisted by the state police and Amsterdam police.