A man barricaded himself inside a Chase Bank in downtown Bakersfield, California, on Tuesday afternoon, holding an unknown number of people hostage, police said. Officers responded to a bomb threat at around 1 p.m. at the bank on Chester Avenue and 17th Street, where they found the suspect had locked himself inside with several community members.
Some of those inside managed to escape, and no injuries have been reported. Nearby buildings, including city hall and police headquarters, were placed on lockdown. The Bakersfield Police Department said its crisis negotiation team is in contact with the suspect by telephone.
A large police presence was established, including about a dozen police cars, a tactical vehicle, multiple emergency responders, and FBI agents. Trauma tents, color-coded to sort potential injuries, were set up as a precaution. Road closures were in effect, and the public was urged to avoid the area.
Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh said in a statement that she is closely monitoring the situation and asked the public to allow law enforcement and negotiators space to carry out their duties safely.
