An uprising and takeover by inmates at the Bertie-Martin Regional Detention Center in North Carolina allegedly took place in the early morning hours of Monday, June 29. That is according to a statement on X from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI). That statement, dated June 29, said that the situation began to unfold at 5:00 a.m. At that time, inmates "overpowered correctional staff and seized control of the facility...."
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According to the statement, guards were allegedly assaulted. One guard escaped. Two others were taken hostage.
The Bertie-Martin Regional Detention Center is located in Windsor, North Carolina.
Negotiations Yesterday Proved Largely Successful
About four and half hours later, at 9:30 a.m., negotiations led to the release of the two remaining guards who were hostages, as well as 18 inmates. Twenty minutes later, more inmates were evidently able to leave the facility peacefully. The entire situation had yet to be fully resolved at that point, according to the statement. Twenty-one law enforcement agencies were participating in bringing the incident to a complete conclusion promptly.
The Sheriff Is Putting Everyone's Safety First
Sheriff Tyrone Ruffin affirmed that everyone's safety and well-being was the priority. He shared, "Our top priority is the safety of our staff, inmates, and the surrounding community. we are coordinating closely with multiple law enforcement partners to resolve this situation safely and as quickly as possible."
The motive for the takeover is still unclear, per the Associated Press. Ruffin said, "Right now, we have a lot gong on that we're trying to get under control. I will release that information to the public as soon as I can."
There Are Still Some Questions About the Facility's Guards
Per the outlet, the pair of guards who were let go reportedly had some type of medical treatment. What that treatment was, and what their injures may have been, is unclear at this time.
Another question that has yet to be answered is why only three guards were apparently in charge of so many inmates. There was a reported total of 88 inmates at the facility.
The Situation Was Apparently Brought Under Control by Monday Afternoon
According to WFXR, "As of Monday afternoon, all inmates and staff have been accounted for. The FBI and NCSBI have cleared the building." The inmates apparently went to other facilities. Damage to the Bertie-Martin Regional Detention Center was reportedly being assessed.
