Investigators with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation said there were 88 inmates housed inside the facility along with just three correctional officers when the violence erupted. During the initial assault, one officer managed to escape the chaos and immediately notified emergency responders, providing authorities with the first alert that the jail had been compromised.
The other two correctional officers were captured and held hostage by inmates, creating an extremely dangerous situation that required negotiators to carefully balance restoring order while protecting the lives of those inside. Law enforcement rapidly secured the perimeter around the detention center, blocking access to the property and ensuring the disturbance remained contained.
Officials stressed throughout the morning that public safety remained their foremost concern as heavily armed officers surrounded the jail.
“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.
As the tense hours passed, authorities maintained constant communication with those inside the facility in hopes of reaching a peaceful resolution before additional violence occurred.
“We are coordinating closely with multiple law enforcement partners to resolve this situation safely and as quickly as possible,” Ruffin said.
Those negotiations eventually showed signs of progress. Shortly before 9:30 a.m., officials confirmed that both hostage correctional officers had been released safely, bringing an end to one of the most dangerous aspects of the ordeal. Authorities also announced that 18 inmates were released from the secured area as part of the negotiated agreement.
Not long afterward, another sizeable group of inmates exited the affected portion of the jail while discussions continued. Officials, however, declined to specify exactly how many detainees still remained inside the areas that had been under inmate control or identify how many prisoners actively participated in the takeover.
The response quickly grew into one of the region’s largest coordinated law enforcement operations. Agencies assisting included 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, along with multiple neighboring sheriff’s offices and local police departments. Officers worked together to maintain security while negotiators continued efforts to bring the crisis to a peaceful conclusion.
Authorities have released very few details regarding how the inmates were able to overpower correctional staff in the first place. Investigators also have not disclosed whether weapons were involved during the takeover or whether any inmates suffered injuries during the confrontation. Officials have only confirmed that the two hostage correctional officers were released without additional injuries.
The Bertie-Martin Regional Detention Center, which houses inmates from both Bertie and Martin counties, has faced operational concerns in recent years, including staffing shortages that have been discussed publicly as local leaders considered expanding the facility. At this time, however, officials have not indicated whether staffing levels contributed to Monday morning’s disturbance.
The regional jail serves individuals awaiting trial, inmates serving shorter sentences, and prisoners awaiting transfer to state correctional facilities. It operates separately from the Bertie Correctional Institution, which is a state-run prison overseen by North Carolina’s Department of Adult Correction.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine exactly what led to the violent takeover, how inmates coordinated the assault, and whether additional criminal charges will be filed against those believed to have participated. More information is expected to be released as investigators continue processing the scene and interviewing those involved.
