Hostage Situation at North Carolina Prison Resolved

Authorities reported that order has been restored at a prison in North Carolina after inmates took a guard hostage and briefly seized control of part of the facility.

The incident unfolded around 5 a.m. at the Bertie Martin Regional Detention Center in Windsor. According to Sheriff Tyrone Ruffin, inmates assaulted a correctional officer on duty, leading to a spontaneous takeover within the jail.

Ruffin emphasized the safety of staff, inmates, and the community as the top priority. “We are collaborating closely with different law enforcement agencies to rectify this situation as swiftly and safely as we can,” he stated.

During the standoff, two correctional officers were taken hostage while a third inmate managed to escape. Initial responding deputies arrived quickly but couldn’t immediately access the jail.

A secure perimeter was established around the detention center, which housed 88 inmates and three guards at the time of the takeover.

After negotiations that lasted into the morning, by around 9:30 a.m., 18 inmates and two guards were released safely. Shortly thereafter, another group of inmates exited the facility unharmed.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation then began to regain control of the remaining inmates, stating around 2 p.m. that the prison had been completely evacuated.

Authorities later assured that all staff and inmates were safe, although some injuries were reported and were being treated. The inmates who remained were relocated to other facilities, while the jail was secured. Investigators continued to assess the situation and asked the public to stay away from the area.

Ruffin acknowledged that the cause of the disturbance is still unclear but assured that there was no threat to public safety.