2 hostages released as standoff with man in Bakersfield office building continues

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Police in California continued to negotiate with a man holding hostages inside a building that houses a Chase Bank branch in Bakersfield. Two hostages have been already released, but it is unclear how many more are being held.

The Bakersfield Police Department’s crisis negotiation team continued to negotiate with the suspect and free the remaining hostages, KGET reported.

Police said in a statement that it had received a call around 1 p.m. PT on Tuesday about a bomb threat at a Chase Bank in downtown Bakersfield, KBAK reported.

A man had barricaded himself in the building with several people inside, police said.

Before 5 p.m. PT, police said that, with the cooperation of the crisis negotiations team and the assistance of the FBI, they were able to negotiate the safe surrender of one of the hostages, according to the television station.

“At this time, everybody else still remains inside the building, and everybody else still remains in good health,” Bakersfield police Sgt. Eric Celedon said at the time.

By 10 p.m. PT, police confirmed that a second hostage had been released, KGET reported.

BPD confirmed that two hostages were released after negotiations and that others still inside with the suspect were safe.

“We have every single resource at our disposal out here to bring this to the safest resolution possible,” Celedon told reporters.

The situation remained active early Wednesday, The New York Times reported, citing an emailed update from the FBI’s Sacramento Field Office.

Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh told residents to avoid the area.

“We continue to closely monitor the situation unfolding in our city and remain concerned for the safety and well-being of everyone involved,” Goh said in a statement.

Officials with the Kern County Sheriff’s Office said a search warrant was served at a home in Oildale in connection to the situation, KGET reported. They did not elaborate.

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