A reported bomb threat at a Chase Bank branch in downtown Bakersfield, California, prompted authorities to evacuate the surrounding area Tuesday afternoon as law enforcement agencies responded to what officials described as an active and developing situation.
The incident unfolded shortly after 1 p.m. local time at a Chase Bank location on the 1500 block of 17th Street, according to the Bakersfield Police Department.
Police Sgt. Eric Celedon said officers were dispatched after receiving reports of a threat at the bank. Authorities later indicated that an unidentified man had entered the branch and was barricaded inside with an unknown number of people.
“There’s a very active scene,” Celedon said in a video message posted by the police department. “If you’re in the area, please leave.”
Law enforcement officials quickly established a security perimeter around the area and ordered evacuations near the city’s civic center as officers worked to assess the situation.
Federal authorities also became involved. The San Francisco Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced that agency resources were being deployed to Bakersfield to assist local law enforcement.
The Bakersfield Police Department urged residents and visitors to avoid the downtown area while emergency personnel conducted operations.
A spokesperson for JPMorgan Chase & Co. said the company’s primary concern was the safety of employees, customers, and everyone involved. The bank stated it was cooperating fully with law enforcement authorities as the investigation continued.
Officials had not immediately released additional information regarding the nature of the threat, the identity of the suspect, or whether any injuries had been reported.
Bakersfield, located approximately 113 miles north of Los Angeles in California’s San Joaquin Valley, is home to more than 420,000 residents and serves as a major center for agriculture and energy production.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident, and additional details are expected as the situation develops.
