Standoff at Chase Bank in Bakersfield

A standoff involving a man suspected of making a bomb threat at a Chase Bank in downtown Bakersfield, California, extended into Tuesday evening as negotiators worked to free those still inside the bank.

The Bakersfield Police Department received reports of the bomb threat just after 1 p.m. near Chester Street and 17th Avenue. According to Sergeant Eric Celedon, authorities discovered that an unidentified man had entered the bank and was with an unknown number of people inside.

Celedon reassured the community, stating that they were utilizing all available resources on the scene, which included SWAT teams, bomb squad members, a K-9 unit, negotiators, and a drone operator.

Authorities suspect the individual may have had a bomb and had barricaded himself with several others inside the building. A post on X labeled the situation as a “confirmed bomb threat,” advising residents to steer clear of downtown and informing them that road closures would remain active for an unspecified period.

After negotiations by both local police and FBI teams, one person was safely released just before 5 p.m., but Celedon mentioned that others were still in the bank, indicating they were healthy at that moment.

Nearby city buildings, such as North and South City Hall, were placed on lockdown as a precaution due to the unfolding events. Mayor Karen Go expressed her concern for everyone’s safety and praised law enforcement for their response, mentioning that city officials were closely watching the situation.