dpBERTIE COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) – The SBI and the FBI will conduct interviews into how inmates were able to gain control of the Bertie-Martin Regional Jail this morning.
Sheriff Tyrone Ruffin says the investigation could go on for several days.
“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,” the sheriff 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.”
The regional jail is operated by a jail authority, appointed by county commissioners from both counties, with a jail administrator running the lockup.
Around 5:00 a.m. inmates seized control of the jail just outside of Windsor.
The SBI says at the time there were 88 inmates and three detention officers inside the facility.
One of those officers was able to escape shortly after the jail was taken over. Thanks to negotiations, the SBI says around 9:30 a.m., the other two officers were released along with 18 inmates.
By 2:00 p.m., law enforcement was able to regain 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 being accessed.
The SBI says those inmates who were injured have received treatment, while others have been transferred to other facilities.
The jail remains closed while damage to the facility is being assessed.
“I am relieved that the officers on duty are now safe and that the situation is stabilized,” said Gov. Josh Stein in a statement. “The perpetrators must be held accountable for this horrifying action.”
There is no word yet on what may have prompted the takeover.
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