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Inmates Seize Jail

Inmates overpowered guards at a North Carolina jail before authorities restored control.

June 29, 2026 · Updated Jun 29, 9:00pm ET

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Pano rates the coverage Balanced.

What happened

Inmates at the Bertie-Martin Regional Detention Center in Windsor, North Carolina, overpowered correctional staff around 5 a.m. Monday and took control of parts of the jail, triggering a large law enforcement response. Authorities said three guards were on duty with 88 inmates inside; one officer escaped while two others were held hostage before negotiators secured their release. More than 20 agencies responded, and officers regained control of the facility by early afternoon, ending a siege that lasted roughly nine hours. Officials transferred the inmates from the facility and reported some unspecified injuries, with no fatalities or continuing threat to the public announced.