By Nicole Bowman-Layton

WINDSOR — All correctional officers and inmates are safe after a hostage standoff at the Bertie-Martin Regional Detention Center ended Monday afternoon, bringing to a close an hours-long inmate takeover that prompted a large response from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

With the immediate crisis over, investigators have begun determining how inmates gained control of portions of the facility and what led to the takeover. At the same time, authorities are warning families to be wary of scammers attempting to exploit the incident with false promises of inmates’ release.

The incident began around 5 a.m. June 29, 2026, when inmates assaulted correctional officers and seized control of portions of the regional detention center. At the time, 88 inmates and three correctional officers were inside the facility.

One correctional officer escaped and alerted law enforcement while two others were held hostage. Deputies arrived within minutes, secured the perimeter and coordinated a response with state and federal agencies, according to law enforcement reports. Negotiations led to the release of the two officers and groups of inmates before investigators entered the facility to take the remaining inmates into custody.

By approximately 2 p.m., the standoff had ended.

“I am relieved to report that the situation concluded safely around 2 p.m. today with minimal injuries,” Bertie County Sheriff Tyrone Ruffin said during an afternoon news briefing. “Now that the incident has concluded, the investigation into what occurred, and how it happened, is just beginning.”

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation later confirmed the facility had been secured by SBI agents and the FBI. All inmates and staff members were accounted for, those who sustained injuries received treatment, and inmates were transferred to other detention facilities while investigators processed the scene and assessed damage to the building.

Investigation shifts to what happened

During a Monday evening press conference, Ruffin said the focus has shifted from resolving the crisis to understanding how it occurred.

SBI and FBI agents are expected to interview correctional officers, inmates and others connected to the incident in what Ruffin said could become a multi-day investigation.

“This investigation could go on for several days,” he said. “We ask that everyone be patient with us. As the investigation goes on, we will continue to provide updates to our community.”

Authorities have not released what prompted the takeover, how inmates were able to overpower correctional officers or whether criminal charges will be filed against those involved.

Ruffin acknowledged that the public has already raised questions about staffing and conditions inside the detention center.

“There are a lot of questions about conditions of the jail, a lot of questions about staffing at the jail,” he said. “Those are things that I do not have because I’m not over the jail, but as the investigation goes on, we will unfold those things and, as always, be transparent with the public.”

Regional response

The response quickly expanded into a coordinated effort involving more than 20 agencies from across North Carolina.

Assisting were the FBI, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, North Carolina State Highway Patrol, North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement, sheriff’s offices from Bertie, Martin, Chowan, Beaufort, Hertford, Pasquotank, Granville, Pamlico, Greene, Lenoir, Wake, Craven, Carteret and Anson counties, along with the Windsor, Williamston and Edenton police departments.

Photos released by the SBI showed tactical teams from multiple agencies staged outside the facility while buses transported inmates to secure detention centers after the standoff ended.

Ruffin praised the coordinated response.

“I want to express my sincere gratitude to all of the agencies that responded and assisted in any way,” he said. “These partnerships are exceptional in ensuring an effective response to situations like the one we experienced today. I am truly thankful for everyone who contributed their time, their effort and their support.”

Congressman Don Davis, whose district includes Bertie and Martin counties, praised the efforts of the various law enforcement agencies.

NC Department of Public Safety Secretary Jeffrey Smythe said, “I want to thank our North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement agents and our other local, state and federal law enforcement partners for their swift, coordinated response to this incident. We are grateful the situation has been stabilized and that those who responded are safe. NCDPS remains committeed to supporting our law enforement partners as they work to keep North Carolinians safe.”

How the detention center operates

During Monday evening’s briefing, Ruffin clarified that the Bertie-Martin Regional Detention Center operates as an independent regional facility rather than as a division of either the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office or the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.

The facility is governed by the Bertie-Martin Regional Jail Commission, which oversees operations through a jail administrator. Because the detention center is located in Bertie County, the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office is leading the criminal investigation in partnership with the SBI and FBI.

The facility serves both Bertie and Martin counties and houses individuals awaiting trial as well as others serving local sentences.

Families warned about scam

As investigators continued their work Monday afternoon, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office warned that scammers had already begun targeting families of inmates housed at the regional detention center.

According to Sheriff Drew Robinson, family members have reported receiving phone calls claiming their loved ones could be released on electronic monitoring if an immediate payment was made.

“This is a scam,” the sheriff’s office said in a public advisory.

Officials emphasized that neither the Martin County Sheriff’s Office nor the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office is arranging inmate releases through electronic monitoring in connection with Monday’s incident.

Anyone receiving a phone call, text message or email requesting payment to secure an inmate’s release is urged not to provide personal or financial information, not to send money and to report the incident to local law enforcement. Authorities said scammers often request payment through electronic money transfers, gift cards or cryptocurrency because those methods are difficult to trace.

Avoiding misinformation

Acknowledging the amount of speculation that circulated online throughout the day, Ruffin encouraged residents to rely on official updates from the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. As those agencies release new information, it will also be reported through established news organizations.

“The only place that you would be able to get factual information from would be the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office or the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation,” Ruffin said. “Any other place could be false, misleading and not true.”

Authorities have not released a timeline for completing their work or reopening the detention center. They also have not said what triggered the inmate takeover, whether changes will be made to staffing or operations at the facility, or whether criminal charges will result from the incident.

The Albemarle Observer will continue monitoring the investigation and report verified information as it becomes available.