Police said a man barricaded himself inside a Chase branch after a reported bomb threat downtown.
BAKERSFIELD, CA — A reported bomb threat at a downtown Bakersfield Chase Bank turned into a hostage standoff Tuesday afternoon after police said a man barricaded himself inside with several people near Chester Avenue and 17th Street.
The response shut down a busy part of downtown, brought tactical units and federal negotiators to the scene, and forced nearby public buildings into lockdown. Police said one hostage was released through negotiations before evening, while others remained inside and were believed to be in good health.
Officers were called to the bank around 1 p.m. Tuesday after a bomb threat was reported. When they arrived, police said they found an unidentified adult man inside the building with several community members who were not free to leave. Early in the response, Bakersfield police Sgt. Eric Celedon stopped short of calling it a hostage situation, saying officers were dealing with a man refusing to come out with people still inside. Hours later, police confirmed it was an active hostage situation. Celedon said negotiators had made contact with the man by phone and were working toward a safe end to the standoff.
A witness who spoke to KGET described seeing the situation begin before the downtown block filled with police vehicles, emergency crews and closed streets. The bank sits near several government buildings, offices and businesses, which made the response spread quickly across the area. Police established a perimeter around the bank and surrounding businesses. Some people were able to evacuate from the building, authorities said. Police did not release the total number of hostages, the suspect’s name or a possible motive. Authorities also did not immediately say whether the reported explosive device had been confirmed as real.
Police said the man was making bomb threats and appeared to have a bomb strapped to his body. Local and federal teams joined the response, including Bakersfield police crisis negotiators, SWAT officers, bomb squad personnel, drone teams, K-9 units and the FBI. The Department of Homeland Security also was reported at the scene. Before 5 p.m., police said negotiators had secured the release of one hostage. “At this time, everybody else still remains inside the building, and everybody else still remains in good health,” Celedon said during an update from the scene.
The standoff affected a central stretch of Bakersfield’s civic district. City Hall North, City Hall South, the Development Services Building and Bakersfield Police Headquarters were placed on lockdown as a precaution. The Hall of Records was evacuated, and streets in the area were closed while officers worked around the bank. Police said closures stretched through parts of downtown, including the area between 18th Street and Truxtun Avenue and from Chester Avenue to H Street. The response slowed traffic and limited access to city services for several hours.
Mayor Karen Goh said city officials were monitoring the incident and remained concerned for everyone inside the bank and for officers at the scene. She thanked Bakersfield police and partner agencies for the coordinated response. JPMorgan Chase spokesperson Peter Kelley said the company was working with law enforcement and that the bank’s focus was the safety of everyone involved. No injuries had been reported in the early public updates. Police said they were using all available resources to keep the situation contained and protect hostages, nearby workers and residents.
The legal and investigative process remained in its early stage Tuesday night. Police had not announced an arrest, charges or a booking. Investigators were still focused on negotiations, the reported bomb threat and the safety of those inside the bank. If the suspect surrendered or was taken into custody, authorities were expected to review potential charges tied to kidnapping, false imprisonment, criminal threats, bomb threats or related offenses. Officials had not released a schedule for a news conference, and the next public update was expected to come from Bakersfield police.
By evening, downtown Bakersfield remained blocked by patrol cars, tactical vehicles and emergency equipment. Witnesses watched from outside the perimeter as officers worked from nearby streets and buildings. The normally busy area around Chester Avenue and 17th Street had become a command zone, with negotiators, bomb technicians and police units staged for a long response. Authorities said the scene would remain closed until the threat was resolved and investigators could determine whether the building was safe.
The hostage situation remained active Tuesday night, with police still communicating with the man inside the Chase Bank and at least one hostage safely released. The next milestone was expected to be another police update after negotiations or a change at the scene.
Author note: Last updated Wednesday, June 3, 2026.