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JUST IN: Inmates Overpower Guards, Take Over Prison In Southern State

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Inmates at the Bertie-Martin Regional Detention Center in eastern North Carolina overpowered correctional officers early Monday morning, seized control of parts of the facility and took two guards hostage, triggering a massive law enforcement response that lasted for hours.

Authorities said negotiations ultimately secured the release of the hostages, though efforts to fully restore control of the jail continued throughout the morning. The incident unfolded at approximately 5 a.m. at the regional detention center in Windsor, North Carolina, about 120 miles east of Raleigh.

According to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, there were 88 inmates and three correctional officers inside the facility when inmates assaulted staff and took over portions of the jail. Officials said one of the three correctional officers managed to escape during the initial confrontation and alerted authorities.

The remaining two officers were taken hostage by inmates, prompting an immediate response from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. A secure perimeter was quickly established around the detention center as authorities worked to contain the situation and prevent anyone from entering or leaving the area.

“Our top priority is the safety of our staff, inmates, and the surrounding community,” Ruffin said in a statement released during the standoff. He urged members of the public to avoid the area while law enforcement worked to resolve the incident peacefully.

“We are coordinating closely with multiple law enforcement partners to resolve this situation safely and as quickly as possible,” Ruffin said.

Authorities entered negotiations with the inmates, and shortly before 9:30 a.m., the talks produced a breakthrough. Officials announced that the two correctional officers had been released without further injury. Along with the hostages, 18 inmates were also released from the secured area as part of the negotiations.

A short time later, another large group of inmates exited the detention center as negotiations continued. Officials did not immediately disclose how many inmates remained inside the controlled portion of the facility or whether additional inmates were directly involved in the takeover.

The response involved a wide range of agencies, including the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office, Martin County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, North Carolina State Highway Patrol, North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement, the FBI and several neighboring sheriff’s offices and police departments. Authorities coordinated efforts to secure the facility while continuing negotiations aimed at ending the standoff without further violence.

Officials have not yet released details about how inmates were able to overpower the correctional staff or whether any weapons were used during the takeover. Likewise, investigators have not disclosed whether any inmates or officers sustained injuries beyond confirming that the two hostage guards were released safely.

The Bertie-Martin Regional Detention Center serves Bertie and Martin counties and has previously faced operational challenges, including staffing shortages that have been cited in discussions about possible future expansion of the facility. However, authorities have not indicated whether staffing levels played any role in Monday’s incident.

The facility serves both Bertie County and Martin County through a regional partnership, housing individuals who are awaiting trial, serving short-term sentences, or awaiting transfer to state prison or other correctional facilities. The jail is separate from the Bertie Correctional Institution, which is a North Carolina state prison operated by the Department of Adult Correction.

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