An unidentified man barricaded himself inside a Chase bank in downtown Bakersfield, California, on Tuesday, holding an unknown number of people hostage. The man had a bomb strapped to his body, according to local reports.
Police Response
Police responded to a bomb threat call at the Chase bank building around 1 p.m. Sgt. Eric Celedon of the Bakersfield Police Department initially hesitated to use the word "hostage" but later confirmed the situation was a hostage crisis. Officers were in contact with the suspect by phone.
One hostage was released Tuesday afternoon, and a second was let go in the evening. The remaining hostages were reported to be "in good health" by Celedon. The exact number still inside remains unclear.
Evacuations and Lockdowns
The city issued evacuation orders for the downtown area, urging people to avoid the vicinity. Multiple city buildings, including city hall north, city hall south, the development services building, and Bakersfield police headquarters, were placed on lockdown.
About a dozen police cars, a tactical vehicle, and multiple emergency responders were on the scene. Road closures remained in effect until further notice.
Bank Statement
JPMorgan Chase spokesperson Peter Kelley stated that the bank was cooperating with law enforcement, emphasizing that their focus was on the safety of everyone involved.
Bakersfield, a city of approximately 380,000 residents, is located about 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles in Kern County.
