Bakersfield bank robber with bombs strapped to his body holds hostage as cops swarm
Cops were in a tense standoff Tuesday with a suspected bank robber in Bakersfield who claimed he had a bomb strapped to his body and had taken hostages.
Officers evacuated surrounding buildings near the Chase bank branch in the city’s downtown area and shut down streets after the attempted heist.
As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, one person was released by the suspect, according to Bakersfield Police. All of the people being detained by the suspect are in good health, according to authorities.
Police described the suspect as a man who was making bomb threats and appeared to have a bomb strapped to his torso.
Police confirmed that at least one hostage was being held.
“An unidentified male subject is currently barricaded with an unknown number of members of our community,” Sergeant Eric Celedon of the Bakersfield Police Department said. “Every single resource is at this site’s disposal.”
