A heavy police presence has surrounded the Chase Bank Building at Chester and 17th Street on Tuesday afternoon after a bomb threat was made just after 1 p.m.
Bakersfield Police say a suspect is contained inside a room with people and is refusing to let them out at this time.
Officers say that everyone held hostage is safe and crisis negotiators are in contact with the suspect.
According to ABC affiliate KERO, Bakersfield City Hall and Police Headquarters are among the buildings on lockdown as a precaution.
The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security are assisting.
Stay with us for the latest details on this developing story.