Two hostages released amid bomb threat at Chase Bank

Added: 2026-06-07

[00:00:00]bad.

[00:00:27]>> You're going to pan into me? No, you're on.

[00:00:32]>> Oh, >> sorry.

[00:01:05]I mean when I wrote it She had They wants a PCSO.

[00:02:09]>> Yeah. That was [ __ ] up.

[00:03:48]Take a half step.

[00:03:59]I might take my headphone out.

[00:04:03]>> Just got to get through it.

[00:04:41]Are you going to step out of the frame?

[00:04:56]Sorry.

[00:05:26]See?

[00:06:36]Hey, good morning guys. Yeah, we're still here currently in downtown Bakersfield where we're awaiting the confirmed capture of a suspect who held downtown Bakersfield on lockdown for over 13 hours. Let's go ahead and get you updated with what we know at this time. Well, just after 2 a.m. this morning, Eyewitness News crew saw a group of SWAT uh exiting the chase building. What looked to be the suspect arrested with um was lifted with his belly down. SWAT made their way down a back alley where onlookers in a nearby parking garage roared with applause.

[00:07:09]Now, at this time, we have not heard from any law enforcement or when a press conference will happen. Let's catch you up on how we got to this point. during these 13 hours. We have since learned that this became an active host situation. Uh Bakersfield Police Department says that the man claimed that he had a bomb strapped to his body with several community members. Now, but there's no word on how many people were inside. FBI and local crisis negotiators were able to successfully negotiate for the release of two of the hostages throughout the night. Now, at this moment, we can confirm that the hostages have been escorted out of the building by SWAT. Now, anxious family members have been to my right hand side all night and are waiting to be reunited.

[00:07:50]Now, one of those family members confirmed that uh that one of the uh that was one of his daughters amongst the seven to nine people that were escorted out by a SWAT. Now, earlier yesterday, Tiffany Ch, the owner of a nearby tattoo shop, she believes her husband was in the bank uh yesterday and must have just missed running into that suspect. Here's her sound bite.

[00:08:33]Now, as mentioned, multiple buildings in the surrounding area are still shut down and are still on lockdown. Uh we are still waiting to hear from local law enforcement to confirm that this area is safe to move forward, but for now buildings are closed as well as streets are closed. You can find all those road closures if you are in our neck of the woods here in Bakersfield on bakersfield now.com. But for now, reporting in downtown Bakersfield, I'm Salva reporting.

[00:09:12]Oh lordy, that was so much static.

[00:09:17]So, so bad.

[00:09:23]>> All right, guys.

[00:09:30]water.

[00:09:54]That's up to you. just in case >> for the sergeant interview.

[00:09:59]>> Yeah.

[00:09:59]>> Well, FBI took over, so it would be the FBI agent. But yeah, if you want to go grab it real quick. Are they I didn't see them in the cubby.

[00:10:10]>> Okay.

[00:10:18]>> Did you call back in to >> I've got RFB in right now, man. Man, my breast my li booty.

[00:10:28]>> That's that overnight stink.

[00:10:58]I I don't know.

[00:11:00]I asked him They're going down.

[00:11:48]All right.

[00:12:03]So that sounds seems like there's a point >> that [ __ ] mean >> at this point it's just the interview press conference. Yeah. And >> basically >> everybody's >> so they probably bought him in a van and my back, which would make a lot of sense.

[00:12:34]>> They probably got one of the most comfy cars, too.

[00:12:40]>> Have a nice day, man.

[00:12:41]>> Likewise.

[00:12:43]>> Thank you guys for sticking around with us. Obviously, long long >> came here to do taxes for like an hour.

[00:12:49]>> I I came here I came I was on my way to do business here and I heard on the scanner like crazy.

[00:12:58]>> Longest Texas ever.

[00:13:02]Just sleep in your car at this point.

[00:13:03]Just do it and go home.

[00:13:05]>> Take a little nap. I'm on 20 minutes of sleep since yesterday. So, >> I'm I'm kind of used to this hour.

[00:13:22]>> So, mic check. Mic check.

[00:13:25]>> Mic check. S mic check.

[00:13:27]>> Did you hear that?

[00:13:29]I can hear you now. Yeah.

[00:13:31]>> I can hear you. Yeah.

[00:13:34]>> Jesus. Give me one second, guys.

[00:13:40]>> Got to tease.

[00:14:16]Um, hostages are being transported to the police station. Their family members will meet them there.

[00:14:25]What?

[00:14:27]>> Did you hear me or no?

[00:14:29]>> Hostages are being taken to the police station and their family members are meeting them there.

[00:14:34]>> Yeah.

[00:14:36]>> Okay. Stand by live.

[00:14:52]>> Everybody Yeah, I'm currently in downtown Bakersfield after a 13-hour standoff with police. We are still waiting to confirm if our suspect has been arrested. We have a live interview coming up next.

[00:15:16]Live live update. Oh, well >> live live update.

[00:15:38]>> I'm on 20 minutes of sleep since yesterday. So, >> I'm I'm powering through.

[00:15:46]Actually, what I could say is we're actually that live interview that I mentioned is actually heading to uh the police station where hostages are now being reunited with their families. So, >> I can just say that cuz we were trying for an interview.

[00:16:41]Yo, big dog, let me know if you have any info on this.

[00:16:47]>> I've got every bit of info.

[00:17:33]Okay.

[00:18:09]This new video just came in.

[00:18:52]Hey, good morning. Yeah, we are still currently live here in downtown Bakersfield where we are still waiting to hear the official uh confirmation of the apprehension of the suspect that shut down uh downtown Bakersfield for over 13 hours. Let's go ahead and catch you up to speed with what we know at this moment. So, just after 2:00 a.m.

[00:19:12]this morning, Eyewitness News crew saw a group of SWAT exiting the Chase Bank right here in downtown Bakersfield. What looked to be the suspect arrested and lifted with his belly down. SWAT made their way down a back alley where onlookers in a nearby parking garage roared with applause. Now, at this time, we have not heard from any law enforcement or when a press conference will happen, but let's catch you up on how we got to this point. Now, we have since learned that this became an active hostage situation as BPD says that the man claimed that he had a bomb strapped to his body with several community members, but there's no word on how many people were actually inside at the time.

[00:19:48]FBI and local crisis negotiators were able to successfully negotiate for the release of two hostages throughout the night. Now, at this moment, thankfully, we can confirm that the hostages have been escorted out of the building by SWAT. Anxious family members have been to my right side all night and are waiting to be reunited with those family members. One of those family members had confirmed that was one of his daughters that was in the seven to nine hostages that were released and escorted by SWAT.

[00:20:16]Now, yesterday afternoon, Tim and Tiffany Chot, an owner of a nearby tattoo shop, believes that her husband was in the bank yesterday and may have just missed running into that suspect.

[00:20:32]Well, with that being said, um we were hoping to have an interview. So during this moment, actually 5 minutes ago, um police have actually told the family members of the hostages to meet them in the police station where they can be officially reunited. Uh the sergeant of Bakersville Police Department had stopped by a quick for a quick moment to message that uh message that to those families. As far as a live press and update, we do not have any information on that as we have been told that FBI has taken over this case and they have not officially released any information at this time. But reporting live in downtown Bakersville, I'm Sled Vinka for Eyewitness News.

[00:21:28]Can I They moved that command center van.

[00:33:07]>> Yeah, >> did that without even us knowing.

[00:33:14]>> It just took it away.

[00:33:34]better or they're just clearing this area.

[00:33:49]There's a little black door to the right hand side. That's where they're going in at.

[00:34:09]You see that? There's a black gate off to the right hand side. That's where they're going.

[00:34:32]>> Brian, are they packing up over there?

[00:34:51]Oh, wow.

[00:34:54]>> You see what I'm saying?

[00:34:58]>> It's all right. We can't until it's over. But um listen, they packed Well, listen. They um they packed up the tent and the bearcat here. They drove the bearcat off. Everyone looks real relaxed right now.

[00:35:25]So, I'm thinking >> about to >> Yeah, it looks like that they might have got him. I'm going to call Heather.

[00:35:37]But I don't have any confirmation yet. I just see guys in the parking garage of the chase.

[00:35:46]Okay, we got move.

[00:36:03]>> Oh, bunch of officers. Yeah, they're coming out.

[00:36:05]>> Yeah.

[00:36:13]>> Don't know.

[00:36:15]>> All right, keep an eye out. They're packing up to get video of it.

[00:36:19]>> I see like 15 like right there in the corridor.

[00:36:27]>> It went >> Yeah, that that way.

[00:36:51]Looks like they're going back in.

[00:37:42]Hey.

[00:37:45]>> Hey. So they packed up the uh command center in this building and they drove the bear. Still a lot of officers kind of on the ground floor parking garage.

[00:37:57]They're going in and out. I'm getting video of all this, but no confirmation if they got him yet.

[00:38:04]Everyone looks real relaxed.

[00:38:11]>> Uh yeah, I could ask All right.

[00:38:17]All right.

[00:38:32]Pay attention.

[00:38:34]>> Help you guys out.

[00:38:37]>> But I love it when you do.

[00:38:44]I I'm so happy.

[00:39:41]Is that him right there, guys?

[00:39:43]>> Got him, guys. Got him.

[00:39:45]>> Got him.

[00:39:46]>> Got him, guys.

[00:39:47]>> Wow.

[00:39:49]>> Got them, guys.

[00:39:50]>> Are you sure?

[00:39:52]>> It looked just like a like a group of them on my cam.

[00:39:57]>> They got him in custody, guys. They got them in custody.

[00:40:00]Hey, Ryan.

[00:40:04]>> Hey. They're per walking him right now.

[00:40:06]I They're per walking him right now. You see it?

[00:40:10]>> They're perp walking him right now.

[00:40:16]>> Okay, you guys are welcome to go over and watch that or you guys can stay here. Totally up to you.

[00:40:31]you guys already.

[00:40:41]I just hope everybody walks out of there, okay, and goes home.

[00:40:53]Can someone tell me what is happening?

[00:40:55]This is potential end to a 13-hour long hostage situation in downtown Bakersville, California.

[00:41:07]>> Yeah, these go.

[00:41:09]There's no way.

[00:42:01]They got him in custody, guys.

[00:42:05]>> Hey, Ryan.

[00:42:08]>> Hey, they're they're per walking him right now. I They're per walking him right now. You see it?

[00:42:14]>> They're perp walking him right now.

[00:42:21]>> Okay, you guys are welcome to go over Now that him right there, guys.

[00:42:44]>> Got him, guys. Got him.

[00:42:45]>> Got him.

[00:42:46]>> Got him, guys.

[00:42:48]>> Wow.

[00:42:50]>> Got him, guys. Got him.

[00:42:51]>> Got him.

[00:42:52]Got him, guys.

[00:42:55]>> Got him, guys. Got him.

[00:43:01]>> Got him, guys.

[00:43:20]Of course that would happen.