SBI says Bertie-Martin Regional Jail takeover is over
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation said the inmate takeover at Bertie-Martin Regional Jail in Windsor ended Monday afternoon, with SBI and FBI agents clearing the facility and accounting for every staff member and inmate after a nearly 10-hour standoff. The siege at this eastern North Carolina jail began around 5 a.m. when inmates overpowered on-duty guards, raising urgent questions about security, staffing, and public safety in rural detention centers.
Key Takeaways
- SBI and FBI cleared Bertie-Martin Regional Jail just before 2 p.m. Monday, June 29, 2026.
- Two correctional officers were held hostage; a third escaped; all three are safe with no fatalities reported.
- Negotiations freed the hostages and 18 inmates around 9:30 a.m.; a larger group followed about 20 minutes later.
- Remaining inmates were transferred elsewhere while the Windsor facility stays closed for damage assessment.
- Officials have not disclosed what triggered the takeover; the investigation remains active.
What happened at the North Carolina jail?
At approximately 5 a.m. ET, inmates inside the Bertie-Martin Regional Detention Center assaulted on-duty correctional staff and seized control of portions of the building, according to the North Carolina SBI. At the time, 88 inmates and three detention officers were inside the facility in Windsor, roughly 115 miles east of Raleigh.
One officer escaped shortly after the takeover began. Two others were taken hostage along with several inmates, authorities said. Bertie County Sheriff Tyrone Ruffin told reporters the jail had been taken over and that his office received the initial call around 5 a.m., with a deputy arriving within two minutes but unable to enter.
How did law enforcement end the standoff?
Local, state, and federal agencies converged on the scene, including the SBI, FBI, North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, State Highway Patrol, and sheriff's offices from across eastern North Carolina. Negotiators worked with inmates while tactical teams prepared to clear the building.
Around 9:30 a.m., negotiations led to the safe release of the two hostage officers and 18 inmates, who exited without further injury, the SBI confirmed. About 20 20 minutes later, another large group of inmates was released. By a midday briefing, Sheriff Ruffin said roughly 80 inmates had been removed, leaving only a few inside.
Just before 2 p.m., the SBI announced that agents had cleared the facility and regained control. All inmates and staff are safe and accounted for, the agency said in a statement cited by USA TODAY, and those who sustained injuries received medical treatment.
Why does the Bertie-Martin takeover matter?
The incident exposed staffing pressure at a regional facility where just three guards overseen 88 inmates when the violence erupted. Sheriff Ruffin acknowledged misinformation and concerns raised about the facility and the care of the inmates, but said he would address those issues once the immediate crisis was resolved.
Gov. Josh Stein said he was relieved the officers were safe and that the perpetrators must be held accountable for this horrifying action. The detention center will remain secured while personnel assess the extent of the damage, officials said, and residents were asked to avoid the area as the investigation continues.
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