Police Say There Is Hostage Situation at California Bank

A man barricaded himself inside a Chase Bank in the Southern California city of Bakersfield with an unknown number of people, police said Tuesday. Police responding to a call of a bomb threat arrived at the scene around 1pm at a bank in downtown Bakersfield, Sgt. Eric Celedon of the Bakersfield Police Department told 23ABC. A JPMorgan Chase spokesperson, Peter Kelley, said they're working with law enforcement and their "focus is on the safety of everyone involved," the AP reports. He provided no other details.

Several city buildings were placed on lockdown, including City Hall North, City Hall South, the Development Services Building, and Bakersfield Police Headquarters. About a dozen police cars were on scene along with one tactical vehicle and multiple emergency responders, according to media reports. KMPH reports that police said the man appeared to have a bomb strapped to his body. Police said they are actively negotiating with the man. They said he has taken at least one hostage.