UMVA has learned that a tense hostage standoff is unfolding at a Chase Bank building in Bakersfield, where a man has barricaded himself with several community members.
The ordeal began on Tuesday afternoon, when police received a bomb threat call at approximately 1:00 p.m. at the bank located at the center of Chester Avenue and 17th Street. An adult male subject had taken control of the situation, trapping several people inside.
As the night wore on, authorities worked tirelessly to resolve the crisis. By Wednesday morning, the Bakersfield Police Department had made some progress, but a resolution to the hostage standoff remained elusive.
In a breakthrough, negotiators successfully secured the release of a second hostage just after midnight ET. The development offered a glimmer of hope that the situation might be brought under control.
The FBI's Sacramento division has been supporting the response to the episode, providing critical assistance to local law enforcement as they work to bring the standoff to a peaceful conclusion.
