Inmates took control of parts of a regional jail in eastern North Carolina on Monday after overpowering correctional staff, authorities reported. The incident began around 5 a.m. at the Bertie-Martin Regional Detention Center in Windsor, a town approximately 120 miles east of Raleigh.
According to a statement from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, 88 inmates and three correctional officers were inside the facility when the takeover occurred. Bertie County Sheriff Tyrone Ruffin stated that there was no immediate threat to the public and that a secure perimeter had been established around the detention center. The public was advised to avoid the immediate area.
During the takeover, inmates took two guards captive, while a third guard managed to escape. Negotiations between authorities and the inmates led to the release of 18 inmates and the two captive guards around 9:30 a.m. The statement indicated that the guards were released without further injury. It was not immediately specified how many individuals remained inside the facility or the full extent of the inmates' control.
Jail administrators and multiple law enforcement agencies were reportedly working toward a swift and peaceful resolution to restore full control of the jail. Sheriff Ruffin emphasized that the safety of staff, inmates, and the surrounding community was the top priority.