Montgomery County Police have provided an update on the ongoing Emergency Response Team (ERT) incident in the 26000 block of Mullinix Mill Road in the Damascus area.
According to police, one adult male is barricaded inside a residence with one adult female. Authorities emphasized that this is not a hostage situation. Officers remain on scene and are actively working to resolve the incident peacefully.
This is a developing story and police say additional information will be released as it becomes available. Updates below:
8:24pm ERT UPDATE: “The barricaded subject is contained inside of the residence and there is no threat to the neighboring community. Negotiators are on scene.”
9:53pm ERT UPDATE: “The ERT is ongoing as negotiations continue. We will share more information as it becomes available.”
10:11pm ERT UPDATE: “Negotiations continue. The adult female is not a hostage, and is choosing to be in the house against MCPD’s request.”
12:58am UPDATE: “The ERT on Mullinex Mill Rd has been resolved and the barricaded adult male is in custody.”
Tuesday afternoon Update: A Damascus man is in custody following a lengthy standoff that stretched into the early morning hours Tuesday.
According to Montgomery County Police, the incident began around 7:15 p.m. Monday, December 29, when Montgomery County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the 26000 block of Mullinix Road to serve multiple felony arrest warrants on 28-year-old Brandon Lee Clayton. Police shared via e-mail that a booking photo was not available for Clayton.
Police say deputies had previously attempted to serve a court order at the same address on December 27. During that earlier encounter, Clayton allegedly refused to comply and threatened to set the home on fire. Deputies and responding Montgomery County Police 5th District officers left the scene at that time and planned to return.
When deputies returned Monday evening, Clayton reportedly barricaded himself inside the residence and again threatened to burn it down. Officers said he attempted to ignite items inside the home, prompting a large police response.
Montgomery County Police SWAT officers and crisis negotiators were called in to assist. During the standoff, Clayton’s mother remained inside the home and initially refused to cooperate with officers or leave the residence, despite repeated requests from police. After several hours of negotiations, she eventually exited the home safely.
Police say Clayton surrendered moments later. The standoff lasted approximately five and a half hours and ended around 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.
