Damascus man surrenders after tense 5-hour standoff over felony warrants
Gaithersburg, MD – A 28-year-old Damascus man was arrested early Tuesday morning after barricading himself inside a home for over five hours and threatening to set the property on fire during a standoff with Montgomery County deputies and police.
The incident began around 7:15 p.m. Monday when deputies arrived at a residence on the 26000 block of Mullinix Road to serve multiple felony warrants on Brandon Lee Clayton. It was the second attempt to take Clayton into custody after he previously refused to comply with a court order on December 27 and allegedly threatened to ignite the home.
When officers returned Monday evening, Clayton again refused to surrender and began barricading himself inside, reportedly trying to set items on fire within the house. Montgomery County Police SWAT and crisis negotiators were called to the scene, where the tense standoff escalated.
Clayton’s mother, who was inside the home, initially refused to cooperate and chose to remain inside despite police urging her to exit. After hours of negotiation, she eventually left the house safely. Clayton surrendered shortly after, ending the standoff at approximately 1:42 a.m. Tuesday.
Clayton was arrested without further incident and transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit. He is being held pending a bond hearing.
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Key Points
- Brandon Lee Clayton, 28, barricaded himself in a Damascus home during a 5-hour standoff
- The standoff began Monday evening and ended early Tuesday morning without injuries
- Clayton faces multiple felony charges and is being held pending a bond hearing
