Two detention officers are safe and 80 inmates moved from Bertie-Martin Regional Jail in Eastern North Carolina Monday after inmates overpowered staff and seized control of the facility overnight, authorities said.
Guards and 80 inmates were removed from the jail over the course of an hours-long negotiation to get law enforcement back in control.
By noon, a cooperative group of law enforcement agencies, from across the state, including the State Bureau of Investigation and FBI, had contained the situation and was working to regain control of the facility.
There is no threat to the public.
Timeline of takeover at Bertie-Martin Regional Jail
Bertie County commissioner Vivian Saunders, who also serves on the jail’s commission, told WRAL’s sister station WITN that a hostage situation unfolded inside the jail on Monday morning around 5 a.m.
According to the SBI, a total of 88 inmates and three guards were inside the facility when the incident began. One of the guards was able to escape, while two others were taken hostage.
Martin County Sheriff Drew Robinson and Bertie County Sheriff Tyrone Ruffin said those officers were safe and no longer inside the jail as of 9:30 a.m. Monday. Authorities were also able to negotiate the safe release of 18 inmates. All were unharmed.
“Our top priority
is the safety of our staff, inmates, and the surrounding community,” said Ruffin. “We are coordinating closely with multiple law
enforcement partners to resolve this situation safely and as quickly as
possible.”
Around 9:50 a.m., another large group of inmates was released and exited the jail.
By noon, 80 inmates had been removed from the jail and taken to another secure facility.
Negotiators continued working to restore control of the jail to law enforcement.
In an update for the public, jail officials acknowledged concerns about the facility but said those issues will be addressed once the current situation is under control. They did not specify what those concerns are or whether they were the impetus for the inmate takeover.