Man barricades himself inside Bakersfield Chase Bank, prompting bomb threat response and lockdown
A tense standoff unfolded in downtown Bakersfield, California, on June 2 after a man barricaded himself inside a Chase Bank building with an unknown number of people, following what police described as a reported bomb threat, authorities said.
The Bakersfield Police Department said officers responded to a bomb threat call around 1 p.m. local time at the Chase Bank building. Further investigation revealed that a man had barricaded himself inside the building along with “several community members,” according to a police news release. Police did not specify how many people were inside, but said no injuries were reported and some individuals were able to evacuate safely.
Nearby buildings, including Bakersfield City Hall and the police headquarters, were placed on lockdown. Roads in the downtown area were closed until further notice as officers established a perimeter around the bank and surrounding businesses to ensure public safety.
“Officers established a perimeter around the building and surrounding businesses to ensure public safety,” police said in a statement shortly before 6:30 p.m. local time. “At the time of this release, officers and members of our Crisis Negotiation Team remain in contact with the subject by telephone. No arrests have been made.”
The FBI Sacramento field office confirmed it was “aware of the crisis in progress” at the Chase Bank building and sent resources to assist local law enforcement. In a social media statement, the bureau urged the public to avoid the area.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about security at financial institutions in smaller cities like Bakersfield, a hub for agriculture and energy production in California’s Central Valley, about 112 miles north of Los Angeles. Such lockdowns disrupt daily life and raise questions about response protocols for potential threats involving hostages or explosives.
USA TODAY has reached out to the Bakersfield Police Department for more information.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Man barricaded himself inside California bank, police say