Bakersfield Police Chief Brent Stratton is speaking publicly for the first time about his department’s role in the June 2 hostage standoff at the Kern County Superintendent of Schools building, praising his officers’ response while acknowledging there is still much to learn as the FBI’s investigation continues.
Anthony Scott Searles-Harris entered the Chase Bank branch on the first floor of the KCSOS building wearing what appeared to be a bomb vest and took nearly a dozen people hostage on the second floor. After a 15-hour standoff, the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team shot and killed Searles-Harris around 4:30 a.m. on June 3. All hostages were rescued unharmed.
Stratton said the Bakersfield Police Department turned over command to the FBI around 9 p.m. on June 2 and that his department is still working to piece together a full picture of how the event unfolded…