Police have rushed to the scene.

23:31, Tue, Jun 2, 2026 Updated: 23:31, Tue, Jun 2, 2026

The scene in Bakersfield

The scene in Bakersfield (Image: X)

Downtown Bakersfield, California, has been evacuated due to a hostage situation with a bomb threat at Chase Bank.

The Bakersfield Police Department said on Tuesday that there is an active hostage situation.

MORE UPDATES TO FOLLOW....

First responders now at the scene

Roughly a dozen police cars have been spotted at the outside the Chase Bank, located on the corner of 17th Street and Chester Avenue.

As well as a dozen police cars, there is also at least one tactical vehicle, as well as multiple emergency responders and a police command centre vehicle seen outside the bank.

Police spokesperson Sally Selby adds detail

A spokesperson for the Bakersfield Police Department has told The Californian officers are negotiating with the unidentified man as of 2pm on Tuesday.

She said a report came at about 1pm that the man was inside the Chase Bank building at 17th Street and Chester Avenue. That prompted police to close H through L streets between Truxtun Avenue and 18th Street, evacuating all nearby buildings.

"We know there's at least one hostage inside," the spokesperson said.

Police speak

Bakersfield Police Sargaent Eric Celedon told Nexstar’s KGET News that authorities were alerted to the threat at the bank at about 1pm local time.Its is now 3:17 pm, as per time of writing. Police are now asking the community to avoid the area.

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Fresh pictures live from the scene

Here are the latest snaps from the scene of the Bakersfield bank job. 

Police at the scene of as robbery in downtown Bakersfield.

Police at the scene of as robbery in downtown Bakersfield (Image: X)

A man is currently held up inside the Chase Bank. Armed police are at the scene

A man is currently held up inside the Chase Bank. Armed police are at the scene (Image: DadsGoneLive/X)

Police HQ in lockdown, city offices

A spokesperson for the City of Bakersfield said they are aware of an ongoing incident at a private property near several City buildings in downtown.

As a precaution, City Hall North, City Hall South, the Development Services Building, and Bakersfield Police Headquarters have been thrown into lockdown until further notice.

Exclusion zone put in place

Bakersfield police have confirmed that an exclusion zone has now been put in place.

Areas between 18th and Truxtun Avenue and Chester to H Streets are now closed due to a bomb threat within the area.

Hostage taken

It is now understood that the man has taken at least one hostage, with negotiators now at the scene working to rescue the person or persons taken by the armed robber.

What you need to know: Bakersfield bank robbery

A man is held up inside a bank with what appears to be a bomb strapped to his chest, with armed police alredy spotted at the scene.

The breaking incident is now unfolding at Chase Bank in Downtown Bakersfield, in the US state of California.

It is unknown as to whether there are any hostages at this time.