The incident occurred at around 5:00 a.m. at the Bertie-Martin Regional Jail in the town of Windsor. At the time, three guards and 88 inmates were inside the facility.
Bertie County Sheriff Tyrone Ruffin said inmates took two jail employees hostage. A third guard managed to escape.
After negotiations, law enforcement secured the release of both hostages, as well as 18 inmates. Later, another large group of inmates was removed from the seized block.
Authorities said both employees were released “without new injuries,” but gave no details about their condition.
Law enforcement has not yet specified how many people remain inside the held areas. A secured perimeter has been set up around the jail, and local residents have been urged to avoid the surrounding area.
The sheriff said there is “no immediate threat to the public outside the perimeter.”
“Our top priority remains the safety of staff, inmates and residents of the surrounding community,” Ruffin said.