WINDSOR — An hours-long hostage standoff at the Bertie-Martin Regional Detention Center ended peacefully Monday after inmates overpowered correctional officers and seized control of portions of the facility.

All inmates and staff members were safely accounted for by early afternoon, according to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. The facility remains secured while investigators work to determine what led to the takeover and assess damage before operations can resume.

Authorities said the incident began around 5 a.m. when inmates assaulted correctional officers inside the regional detention center, which serves both Bertie and Martin counties. At the time, 88 inmates and three correctional officers were inside the facility. One officer escaped and alerted law enforcement while two others were held hostage until they were released several hours later through negotiations.

By Monday afternoon, roughly 80 inmates had been removed from the facility, with the remaining inmates taken into custody after investigators entered the building. Those housed at the detention center have since been transferred to other facilities, while injured staff members received medical treatment.

Bertie County Sheriff Tyrone Ruffin said the immediate focus was on bringing the situation to a safe conclusion before investigators begin determining exactly what happened.

“It has been brought to my attention that there has been some misinformation and some concerns raised about the facility and the care of the inmates,” Ruffin said during a Monday afternoon news briefing. “As soon as I get the current situation … under control, I will address the issues of the facility and care of the inmates with the public as the investigation goes on.”

Ruffin also pledged to keep residents informed as investigators continue their work.

“I am committed to the citizens of Bertie County to be transparent and ensure everyone’s safety,” he said. “That is including the staff at the jail and the inmates.”

Officials emphasized there was no threat to the public during the incident.

“There is no immediate threat to the public, and everything is contained to the facility,” Ruffin said.

“We have over 20-plus law enforcement agencies that are here, and we’re all working to contain this event and start an investigation,” Ruffin said.

Gov. Josh Stein thanked the law enforcement officers who restored peace at the center. He also called for the perpetrators to be held accountable for the incident.

“We also must do everything in our power to ensure this doesn’t happen again – and that includes doing more to recruit, retain and compensate the county and state officials who are charged with keeping our jails and prisons safe,” he said on social media.

The Bertie-Martin Regional Detention Center, located just outside Windsor, is jointly operated by the Bertie and Martin county sheriff’s offices. The facility houses inmates for both counties and is staffed by detention officers employed through the two sheriff’s offices.

Officials have not released what prompted the takeover or how inmates were able to gain control of portions of the facility. When asked about the staffing level inside the detention center, Ruffin confirmed that three correctional officers were on duty but said he could not immediately discuss staffing practices because the facility is jointly operated by the two sheriff’s offices and the investigation remains in its early stages.

Ruffin also did not comment on the correctional officers’ injuries but noted that he had spoken with them. The corrections officers indicated that they were “OK.”

The SBI and FBI continue to investigate.

The Albemarle Observer will continue following the investigation and update this story as additional information becomes available.