CABARRUS COUNTY, N.C. — Two juveniles assaulted a staff member at the Cabarrus Juvenile Detention Center on Oct. 10, stealing his keys, destroying his radio, and locking him in a room.
The juveniles then unlocked other youth in the facility, leading to fights among the group at the center, which is overseen by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.
The incident is the latest in a series of documented safety, staffing, and overcrowding concerns at the Concord facility. The detention center is also subject to a pending federal civil-rights lawsuit over its confinement practices.
During the Oct. 10 incident, the two juveniles destroyed the staff member’s radio before locking him in a room. Emergency audio records show a facility worker called 911 to request an ambulance for the injured employee.
“I work at Stonewall Jackson Cabarrus. We have a staff member who was attacked by a juvenile and needs to be transported by ambulance to the hospital,” the staff member said.
A facility worker later confirmed to dispatchers that the juveniles had been contained. “They’re secure. Yes,” the worker said.
Safety concerns at the facility extend back several years, including a major disturbance in 2024. In that incident, a juvenile assaulted a staff member, stole keys, and released other youth from their rooms.
A staff member called emergency dispatchers for urgent help. “Hey! I need police assistance,” the staff member said.
Authorities reported that the group took over a pod, armed themselves with shackles and broken items, and caused thousands of dollars in damage.
Dispatch scanner communications tracked the incident as first responders arrived. “Units responding to Stonewall Jackson, we have an additional caller. They say there are students who are armed with things they have broken,” a dispatcher said over the radio.
Radio communications noted that youth had “damaged and destroyed a bunch of computer equipment.”
Statewide data reflects broader operational challenges throughout the North Carolina juvenile justice system.
According to the state’s latest annual report, more than half of youth counselor positions statewide were vacant.
State officials reported that detention facilities continued to house more juveniles than they had available staffed beds.
The Cabarrus facility is also at the center of legal action over its disciplinary practices. A federal civil-rights lawsuit challenges the facility’s reliance on room confinement.
The proposed settlement would significantly restrict when juveniles can be isolated and would ban the use of room confinement as a punishment.
A federal judge has granted preliminary approval to the settlement agreement, but the agreement is not yet final.
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