Inmates Take Control of North Carolina Jail
In a dramatic incident early Monday, inmates at the Bertie Martin Regional Jail in eastern North Carolina managed to overpower staff and took two jail employees hostage. This situation unfolded around 5 a.m., leading to a significant response from local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, as reported by WAVY News.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) confirmed that at the time, there were 88 inmates and three correctional officers present. The overwhelmed officers were unable to maintain control, allowing the inmates to seize part of the facility. A police officer reportedly managed to escape during the chaos, according to WITN.
*** Immediate release ***
Deputed as Bertie County and Martin County Sheriff’s Deputies
(Bertie County, North Carolina) — At approximately 5 a.m. this morning, inmates at Bertie Martin Regional Detention Center overpowered correctional staff, seized control of the facility, and threatened immediate…
— NC SBI (@SBI1937) June 29, 2026
By around 9:30 a.m., negotiations led to the safe release of two detention staff members and 18 inmates. Fortunately, the officers were unharmed. However, a separate group of inmates left the facility about 20 minutes later as discussions to resolve the situation continued, as per WRAL News.
Bertie County Sheriff Tyrone Ruffin emphasized the priority of safety for both staff and inmates, stating, “We are working closely with multiple law enforcement agencies to resolve this situation as quickly and safely as possible,” according to WITN.
A large contingent of law enforcement gathered at the jail throughout the morning as efforts were made to regain control, as reported by WNCT.
🚨 BREAKING: Situation develops at Bertie Martin Regional Detention Center
June 29, 2026 A serious security incident occurred early this morning at the Bertie Martin Regional Detention Center in Windsor, North Carolina.
Major updates:
Incident: Around 5 a.m., prisoners… pic.twitter.com/gSnADHt1dj
— Amy Leigh (@IAmyLeigh) June 29, 2026
As of Monday afternoon, authorities had yet to disclose details regarding the cause of the inmate takeover or whether any charges would result from the incident.
