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WINDSOR – A sergeant at Bertie Correctional Institution and an unnamed inmate were both treated and released from outside medical attention after the officer was stabbed at the facility with a homemade weapon, believed to be a ‘shank’, here Friday afternoon.

According to John Bull with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety (DPS), the assault occurred at 1:15 p.m. when the offender pulled the weapon and stabbed the sergeant, who was a 17-year veteran employee.

Following the incident, the prison was immediately placed on lockdown, and remained so throughout the weekend.

Bull added that local law enforcement was immediately notified and is investigating as is the Department. DPS says they will seek charges and are fully cooperating with the investigation. An internal investigation has been launched as well.

This incident is the second to occur at the Bertie facility in several months. Earlier this summer, an inmate assaulted a sergeant and two officers at the same prison.

The latest incident also comes two years since an inmate at Bertie Correctional beat Sgt. Meggan Callahan to death with a fire extinguisher in 2017. Her father, in a federal lawsuit, accused the Department of not addressing problems including chronic understaffing and safety concerns.

DPS called Callahan’s death a horrible tragedy and says the Department is committed to the safety and security of its staff.