Bertie-Martin Regional Jail Hostage Situation Ends
Pure mayhem broke out at the Bertie-Martin Regional Detention Center early Monday morning when a group of inmates violently overpowered staff and seized control of large parts of the jail in a takeover.
According to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), it started around 5:00 a.m. Inmates assaulted on-duty guards and took over sections of the facility. At the time, 88 inmates and just 3 guards were inside.
One guard made a desperate escape shortly after the takeover began, but the other two guards were taken hostage in the standoff.
After hours of high-stakes negotiations, around 9:30 a.m. — both hostage guards were safely released along with 18 inmates. Just 20 minutes later, at 9:50 a.m., another large group of inmates was freed and exited the facility.
By early afternoon, law enforcement had removed around 80 inmates. The final holdouts were cleared when the SBI and FBI stormed the building and regained full control just before 2:00 p.m. — ending the nearly 10-hour siege.
Officials confirmed that all inmates and staff are safe and accounted for. Injured individuals received medical treatment. There were no fatalities.
Inmates have since been transferred to other detention facilities. The jail is now closed while officials assess the damage inside.
Inmates Loaded Onto Transport Bus During Bertie-Martin Regional Jail Hostage Situation
Bertie County Sheriff Tyrone Ruffin addressed the incident during a press conference, saying the Sheriff’s Office received a call that the jail had been taken over and two correctional officers were being held hostage.
“Our top priority is the safety of our staff, inmates, and the surrounding community,” Ruffin stated. “We are coordinating closely with multiple law enforcement partners to resolve this situation safely and as quickly as possible.”
A huge law enforcement presence — including the SBI, FBI, State Highway Patrol, and multiple sheriff’s offices from across the region — responded to the jail. Authorities locked down County Farm Road with a heavy perimeter. There was no threat to the general public at any point.
The SBI and FBI are now investigating how the takeover happened.
4 thoughts on “Inmates Storm NC Jail, Take Guards Hostage in Takeover — Nearly 10-Hour Standoff Ends as SBI & FBI Storm Facility”
Treat the inmates like humans and those things will never happen.
Inmates treated with respect have no reason to riot.
I agree
I would put money on it them inmates were treated like animals this is 100% the prison problem