A bank thief who detonated a bomb strapped to his body took multiple hostages during a lengthy standoff in Bakersfield, ultimately leading to tragic outcomes. The robber, identified as Anthony Searles Harris, had a troubling criminal background, including offenses involving underage girls during a time when he was on the run from authorities after a short military stint.
FBI agents fatally shot the 41-year-old after he held ten hostages for around 15 hours inside a Chase Bank in downtown Bakersfield early on Wednesday.
Harris, in 2014, had been found guilty of serious sex crimes against minors, with charges including engaging in lewd acts with children under 14, as well as oral copulation with minors in similar circumstances—each involving significant age differences. Initially facing 15 charges, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison and mandated to register as a sex offender. However, his convictions were overturned on appeal in 2017, allowing him to be released the following year.
The appeal process revealed disturbing details, including Harris’s involvement in hosting “sex parties” in the summer of 2011, where he provided drugs and alcohol to minors. Disturbingly, he even recorded two underage girls in compromising situations and coerced them with alcohol to take part in sexual acts. There were instances where the girls, feeling uncomfortable, attempted to stop what was happening.
Reports indicate that he made threatening remarks, warning the girls about the potential repercussions if they disclosed his actions, stating he had killed before and would do so again. In a different instance, he allegedly persuaded a 13-year-old to record herself in the shower and during sexual activities in exchange for money and drugs.
Harris had addressed claims of being framed in a nearly two-hour YouTube video posted last year, insisting on his innocence. Law enforcement officials stressed that he was no stranger to legal troubles, highlighting a history of using weapons for violent crimes.
During the hostage situation, one of his demands was to obtain documentation related to his previous legal issues. It appeared he was dissatisfied with certain aspects of the unfolding events. Before this incident, Harris had a brief service in the U.S. Army from 2006 to 2007, after which he was dishonorably discharged for being absent without leave—the specifics of his military service remain unclear.
Authorities noted that Harris likely sought notoriety through this act, as he seemed particularly interested in the involvement of federal agents. Witnesses recounted his alarming remarks as he entered the bank, with one sharing that he ominously stated, “It’s a bad day to go to the bank.”
