Order was restored at a regional detention center in North Carolina after a group of inmates overpowered correctional staff, took hostages, and briefly seized control of parts of the facility. The incident unfolded in the early hours of the morning at the Bertie-Martin Regional Detention Center in Windsor, with authorities confirming the situation was resolved by late afternoon.
The takeover began at 5 a.m. when inmates assaulted on-duty staff, gaining control of sections of the jail. Two corrections officers were taken hostage during the attack, while a third managed to escape. A responding deputy arrived within two minutes of the initial alert but was unable to enter the facility due to the ongoing security breach.
Law enforcement swiftly established a perimeter around the detention center to contain the situation. At the height of the incident, 88 inmates and three staff members were present inside the facility. By 9:30 a.m., negotiations led to the release of 18 inmates and the two captors. Shortly afterward, a larger group of inmates was also released and exited the site without incident.
State investigators entered the facility to regain full control, securing the remaining 10 inmates in custody by 2 p.m. Officials confirmed all individuals—both staff and detainees—were accounted for unharmed, with medical attention provided to those injured during the conflict. Inmates have since been transferred to alternative facilities, while the detention center remains secured for damage assessment and further evaluation.
Authorities have not yet identified the cause of the unrest but emphasized there was no risk to the surrounding public. Investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances that led to the breach of security. The area remains off-limits to the public as cleanup and operational reviews continue.
