News Releases

Damascus Man Arrested After Hours-Long Standoff

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Gaithersburg, MD - A Damascus man is in custody following a standoff that lasted several hours and extended into the early morning hours of Tuesday, December 30, 2025.

At approximately 7:15 p.m. on Monday, December 29, 2025, Montgomery County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the 26000 block of Mullinix Road in Damascus to serve multiple felony arrest warrants on 28-year-old Brandon Lee Clayton.

Deputies had previously attempted to a court order at the same address on December 27, but Clayton did not comply and threatened to set the home on fire. Deputies and MCPD 5th District officers, who responded to assist the deputies, left the location and planned to return at a later time.

When deputies returned on December 29, Clayton barricaded himself inside the home and again threatened to burn it down. Officers reported that he attempted to ignite items inside the residence.

Montgomery County Police SWAT officers and crisis negotiators responded to assist. During the standoff, Clayton’s mother refused to cooperate with officers and chose to stay in the house against MCPD’s request. After several hours of negotiation, she eventually left the house safely. Clayton surrendered a few moments later.

The standoff lasted approximately five and a half hours and concluded at about 1:42 a.m. Tuesday.

Clayton was taken into custody and transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit, where he is being held pending a bond hearing.

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Release ID: 25-589
Media Contact: S.D. Goff 
Categories: arrest , barricade