BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Local, state and federal agencies that responded to the bomb threat and hostage incident at the Chase Bank building in downtown Bakersfield were recognized at the Bakersfield City Council meeting Wednesday.

John Mendiburu, the Kern County Superintendent of Schools, made the presentation before the City Council at City Hall — right across the street from where the 15-hour long incident took place last Tuesday.

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Ahead of the presentation, Mayor Karen Goh said what happened at the Chase Bank building that day was unimaginable and that she was grateful for the way the community united.

Mendiburu thanked all the agencies — including local agencies like the Bakersfield Police Department, Fire Department, Hall Ambulance and Kern County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services — who responded to the incident on behalf of KCSOS and KCSOS families.

He said it was an event you’d never wish upon anybody nor want to happen ever again, but the local, state and federal agencies worked together efficiently.

“The city of Bakersfield shined that evening and the employees extremely appreciated the compassion and the collaboration and the dedication that all of the agencies provided,” said Mendiburu.

At around 1 p.m. June 2, Bakersfield police were notified of a man making a threat at the Chase Bank building at 17th Street and Chester Avenue.

The suspect, later identified as Anthony Scott Searles-Harris, 41, had barricaded himself in the second floor of the building with 10 hostages. The hostages were all KCSOS employees.

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Two hostages were released at around 10 p.m. following negotiations, according to the Bakersfield Police Department.

FBI personnel shot and killed Searles-Harris at about 4:20 a.m. Wednesday, officials said. All hostages were freed safely.

The Chase Bank branch reopened June 8. KCSOS said its offices located throughout the building will remain closed until further notice.

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