BERTIE COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) – The SBI and FBI will conduct interviews about how inmates were able to gain control of the Bertie Martin Regional Jail this morning.
Sheriff Tyrone Ruffin says the investigation could continue for several days.
“There are a lot of questions about jail conditions and staffing, but I don’t have those questions because I’m not in the jail,” the sheriff said. “But as the investigation continues, we will uncover these things and, as always, we will be candid with the public to bring you answers that may impact families, friends and the community.”
The regional jail is run by a jail administrator appointed by the commissioners of both counties, and the detention center is run by a jail administrator.
Authorities managed to regain control of the prison this afternoon.(SBI)
Around 5 a.m., inmates seized control of the prison near Windsor.
According to the State Bureau of Investigation, at that time there were 88 prisoners and three pre-trial detention center employees in the institution.
One of these officers managed to escape shortly after the prison was captured. Thanks to negotiations, the SBI reported, two other officers were released along with 18 prisoners around 9:30 a.m.
By 14:00, law enforcement managed to regain control of the prison, and all prisoners were removed from the facility.
The inmates were released from the Bertie Martin Regional Jail.(VITN)
It is reported that on Monday, June 29, prisoners took over the Bertie-Martin Regional Detention Center.(NCBI)
The SBI reports that the wounded prisoners were provided with medical care, and the rest were transferred to other institutions.
The sheriff said the jail will remain closed while damage to the building is assessed.
“I am pleased that the officers on duty are now safe and that the situation has stabilized,” Gov. Josh Stein said in a statement. “The perpetrators must be held accountable for this horrific act.”
There is no information yet about what could have caused the takeover.
A large law enforcement presence was observed at ECU Health’s Bertie Hospital.(VITN)
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