jail takeover – Sheriff Tyrone Ruffin says the investigation into how inmates took control of the Bertie-Martin Regional Jail could last several days. The SBI and FBI will interview people involved as authorities regained control by 2 p.m., treating injured inmates and transf
Around the same time many people were still waking up, inmates seized control of the Bertie-Martin Regional Jail just outside Windsor—an overnight takeover that left officers scrambling and the facility locked down all day.
Sheriff Tyrone Ruffin said the investigation into how that happened could go on for several days. He described the questions he still doesn’t have, including concerns about jail conditions and staffing.
“There are a lot of questions about the conditions of the jail. a lot of questions about staffing. and those are things that I do not have because I’m not over at the jail. ” Ruffin said. “But. as the investigation goes on. we will unfold those things. and we will. as always. be transparent with the public to get you those answers that may concern families. friends. and the community.”.
This morning’s interviews will be led by the SBI and the FBI, focused on how inmates were able to gain control of the jail.
The SBI said the takeover began at about 5:00 a.m., when there were 88 inmates and three detention officers inside the facility. One officer escaped shortly after inmates took control. Thanks to negotiations, the SBI said around 9:30 a.m., the other two officers were released along with 18 inmates.
By 2:00 p.m., law enforcement regained control of the jail, with all inmates removed from the facility.
The sheriff said this afternoon that there was some damage done to the jail and that it is being accessed while officials evaluate what happened. The jail remains closed while the damage to the facility is assessed.
Ruffin also pointed to the structure behind the lockup’s operation: the Bertie-Martin Regional Jail is operated by a jail authority appointed by county commissioners from both counties, with a jail administrator running the lockup.
The aftermath includes medical attention and movement of detainees. The SBI said inmates who were injured have received treatment, while others have been transferred to other facilities.
Gov. Josh Stein said in a statement, “I am relieved that the officers on duty are now safe and that the situation is stabilized. The perpetrators must be held accountable for this horrifying action.”
For families and community members, the unanswered question is the motive. There is no word yet on what may have prompted the takeover. What authorities could confirm was the scope of the event and the security response that followed.
Inmates were reported to have taken over the Bertie-Martin Regional Detention Center on Monday, June 29.
Even beyond the jail walls, the tension was visible: a heavy law enforcement presence was seen at ECU Health Bertie Hospital.
As the facility remains closed and the investigation continues, the SBI and FBI interviews are expected to move from the immediate outcome—officers safe, inmates removed—to the details of what allowed the takeover to begin and why it lasted long enough to force negotiations.
Bertie-Martin Regional Jail Sheriff Tyrone Ruffin SBI FBI Windsor jail takeover investigation North Carolina ECU Health Bertie Hospital
How do inmates just take over a whole jail overnight??
Several days of “probe” like that’s supposed to make it better… meanwhile families are waiting. Also 5am start sounds like somebody had to know, right?
I read that 88 inmates and only three officers were in there and that just seems wild. Like if staffing was an issue then why wasn’t it caught sooner? Not saying it’s easy, but come on.
This is why I don’t trust the whole system. They say FBI and SBI will “interview people” but they never interview the right ones. Injured inmates treated… ok, but were the officers just asleep? And now they’re checking “damage” like that’s the main question. Feels like more staffing excuses to me.