Standoff underway after bomb threat reported at California bank, 1 hostage released so far

ABC NEWS -- A standoff is underway after a bomb threat was reported at a bank in Bakersfield, California with an unknown number of hostages according to Bakersfield Police Department. 

Officers responding to a call of a bomb threat arrived at the scene around 1 p.m. local time at the Chase Bank building in downtown Bakersfield and discovered a man had barricaded himself inside “with several community members,” the Bakersfield Police Department said in a statement.

"With the cooperation of our crisis negotiation team and the assistance of the FBI negotiation team, we were able to negotiate the safe surrender of one of the hostages," Celedon told reporters in the latest update. "At this time, everybody else still remains in the building and everybody else remains in good health."

Crisis negotiators are in contact with the individual over the phone, according to police. Bakersfield Police Department Sgt. Eric Celedon told ABC reporters that authorities could not confirm if there is a bomb. 

The FBI and Homeland Security are assisting, and other resources are coming in from throughout the state. 

Several buildings in the surrounding area have been evacuated, including City Hall.

Chase Bank is located at Chester Avenue and 17th Street in Bakersfield, California. 

This is a developing story, stay with ABC57 News as we learn more.