A hostage situation is unfolding at the Chase bank branch in downtown Bakersfield, California, amidst bomb threats. The Bakersfield Police Department has confirmed a bomb threat at the Chase Bank Building on Chester Avenue and 17th Street, with road closures in effect.
A suspected bank robber, reportedly with bombs strapped to his body and a hostage, has been barricaded inside. The FBI and Homeland Security are assisting in the case, with multiple police cars, tactical vehicles, and emergency responders on the scene.
Negotiations are ongoing, with the public asked to avoid the area. Several city buildings, including City Hall and the Bakersfield Police Headquarters, have been placed under lockdown as a precaution.
