Hostage situation in Southern California bank ends after suspect shot dead, Bakersfield police say
An hourslong standoff that began Tuesday came to an end early Wednesday after a suspect who had barricaded himself inside a bank building in Bakersfield, California was shot by Federal Bureau of Investigation personnel, authorities said.
The incident began unfolding at around 1 p.m. local time on Tuesday when officers were dispatched to a report of a "bomb threat" at a Chase bank branch downtown. All the buildings in the surrounding area were evacuated. Police responded with SWAT teams, hostage negotiators and a bomb squad.
Officials said during a news conference on Wednesday that the hostage situation occurred on the second floor of the building, which is home to the Kern County Superintendent of Schools' Office. The office said it owns the building and leases space on the first floor to Chase Bank. Other parts of the building house administrative offices for student services.
Police said officers arrived to find a man who had barricaded himself in the building "with several community members." Some people were able to escape, police said.
FBI Special Agent in Charge for the Sacramento field office Sid Patel identified the man as Anthony Scott Searles-Harris, a 41-year-old White man who was "no stranger to law enforcement." Sharris had previously been dishonorably discharged from the U.S. Army for going absent without leave during his service from 2006 to 2007, Patel said, and he has a criminal record. He is also a registered sex offender, Patel said.
Ten people, all identified by the office as Kern County Superintendent of Schools employees, were taken hostage, Patel said Wednesday. Five of those hostages were tied up. Searles-Harris claimed to have a bomb and to have attached explosive devices to several hostages.
Searles-Harris was "neutralized" by members of the FBI's hostage rescue team at 4:20 a.m. local time, Patel said.
Two hostages were released before Searles-Harris was shot and killed. Bakersfield police Sgt. Eric Celedon said on social media early Tuesday evening that he had agreed to release one of the hostages after negotiations. Another hostage was released shortly after 9 p.m. local time.
Attempts to negotiate the release of more hostages failed, Patel said, leading to the decision to enter the building.
All of the hostages were unharmed, the department said, and received medical evaluation at the scene.
"My deepest gratitude goes to our partners at the Bakersfield Police Department, the FBI, and all responding agencies for their professionalism, courage, and commitment to protecting lives," said Dr. John Mendiburu, the Kern County Superintendent of Schools, in a statement.
Police said the public should expect road closures and delays in the area around the bank until sometime Wednesday afternoon.
An official with the Kern County Sheriff's Office earlier told CBS News that Bakersfield police had alerted the sheriff's office about the incident, but had not asked for assistance.
Bakersfield is located about 110 miles north of Los Angeles.
