Order was restored Monday after a reported Bertie-Martin Regional Detention Center takeover in Windsor, North Carolina, officials said. Authorities say inmates overpowered guards early in the morning, and two corrections officers were held hostage before they were released unharmed.
Law enforcement set a perimeter and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation entered the facility; the SBI said the jail was cleared by about 2 p.m. and that all inmates and staff were accounted for.
What happened at Bertie-Martin Regional Detention Center takeover
The disturbance began early Monday, when inmates allegedly assaulted on-duty correctional staff and seized portions of the Bertie-Martin Regional Detention Center, Bertie County Sheriff Tyrone Ruffin said. At the time of the incident, 88 inmates and three corrections officers were inside the facility.
Ruffin told reporters that two corrections officers were taken hostage during the incident while a third officer was able to escape the immediate area. Over the course of several hours, negotiations and tactical efforts led to the release of groups of inmates and the two guards without reported fatalities.
By roughly 9:30 a.m., authorities said 18 inmates and the two captive guards had been released unharmed as officials continued to manage the scene. Additional inmates were subsequently returned to custody as the SBI and local deputies worked to regain control of secured areas inside the jail.
How law enforcement responded to the takeover
Officials said the first responding deputy arrived within two minutes of the initial alert but was unable to enter the building. Deputies, sheriff’s personnel and mutual aid partners quickly established a perimeter around the detention center in Windsor to contain the scene and protect staff and the public.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation was called in to lead the criminal inquiry and to assist with securing the facility. SBI teams coordinated with the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office and other local agencies throughout midday as they worked to recover control of the jail’s interior spaces.
Securing the facility involved staged entries by trained teams, accounting for inmates and staff, and room-to-room clearance operations. SBI officials said those actions continued through the afternoon until their crews confirmed the facility had been cleared at about 2 p.m.
Hostages, releases and custody updates
Sheriff Ruffin confirmed that two corrections officers had been held captive during the takeover and later released without reported serious injury. He reiterated that the safety of staff, inmates and the public remained the department’s top priority: “Our top priority is the safety of our staff, inmates, and the surrounding community,” he said.
The SBI posted updates indicating all inmates and staff were accounted for after clearing operations concluded. Officials noted that some people sustained injuries and received treatment; they did not release detailed medical information, citing privacy and ongoing investigation concerns.
Investigators said inmates implicated in the disturbance were being transferred to other facilities for housing while charges or administrative actions are considered. The transfers are intended to restore order and ensure safe housing while authorities complete assessments and documentation of the incident.
Local impact and safety guidance
Bertie County officials said there was no threat to the general public posed by the takeover. Law enforcement asked residents to avoid the immediate area around the detention center while crews worked, and officials temporarily closed or rerouted nearby roads as part of the operational response.
The sheriff’s office and SBI urged the public to follow official channels for updates and to heed any travel or safety notices from local authorities. The presence of law enforcement in the area remained visible through the afternoon as teams completed the clearance and accountability process.
What investigators say and next steps
Investigators have not yet determined a definitive trigger for the takeover, Sheriff Ruffin said. SBI-led investigators are conducting interviews, reviewing facility records and examining surveillance and other footage as part of the ongoing probe.
Officials said the detention center will remain secured while personnel assess damage and determine what repairs, staffing changes or procedural adjustments may be needed before operations resume fully. Criminal charges related to the disturbance had not been detailed in initial public statements.
As investigators continue their work, officials cautioned that timelines may change and additional information will be released when verified. The Bertie County Sheriff’s Office and the SBI will provide updates as investigative steps are completed and as decisions about housing and operations are finalized.
Reporting and source notes
Reporting for this article is based on statements from the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and a Fox News report. The original report is available at: https://www.foxnews.com/us/two-corrections-officers-held-hostage-after-inmates-take-over-portions-north-carolina-detention-center
Verification limits: initial claims about who carried out the assaults and the precise cause of the disturbance come from law enforcement statements and have not been independently verified. Numbers and timelines reflect information released by authorities and may be updated as the investigation continues.
