Police Evacuate Bank of America in Downtown Santa Barbara Following Bomb Threat

Update: British Citizen Arrested and Charged with Making Felony False Bomb Threats and Terrorist Threats

Santa Barbara police cordoned off the area surrounding the Bank of America on the corner of State and Canon Perdido streets, which was evacuated due to a bomb threat on Thursday afternoon, April 4. | Credit: Ryan P. Cruz

[Update: Fri., Apr. 5, 10:30am] Santa Barbara Police Department spokesperson Sergeant Ethan Ragsdale announced in a statement Tuesday evening that one man — 35-year-old Stephen Samuel Paradise, a resident of Bristol, England — was arrested following the reportedly false bomb threats at Bank of America on State Street Thursday afternoon.

According to the statement, Paradise allegedly walked into the bank around 2 p.m. and “reported to a teller that he had an explosive device in a bag he was carrying,” then “sat on the floor of the bank” with the bag.

Bank employees alerted authorities, the bank was immediately evacuated, and Santa Barbara Police officers made contact with Paradise. After a brief negotiation, Paradise was taken into custody without incident.

Police also confirmed that after the Santa Barbara County Bomb Squad thoroughly checked the bag Paradise was carrying, no explosive device was discovered. State Street and Canon Perdido Street were reopened nearly two hours after the incident.

Paradise was checked by mental health professionals at the police station and then booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on charges of felony false bomb threats and felony terrorist threats. His bail was set at $50,000. The incident is still under investigation.

[Original Story] The Bank of America on the corner of State and Canon Perdido streets in downtown Santa Barbara was evacuated and the surrounding streets cordoned off Thursday afternoon following a report of an explosive device in the bank.

Details surrounding the incident, which remains under investigation, are scarce. According to an eyewitness on the scene, a man walked into the bank with a briefcase and then sat down, prompting a call to 9-1-1.

Upon receiving a call reporting an explosive device inside the bank, police arrived on the scene and conducted a search of the bank but “did not locate anything resembling an explosive device,” according to police spokesperson Sergeant Ethan Ragsdale, who added that the detectives also received information that the “threat may not be credible.” However, bomb technicians were called to the scene out of an abundance of caution to conduct a more thorough search of the building.

Santa Barbara police have cordoned off the area surrounding the bank, located at 834 State Street, and ask that bystanders avoid the area. “No pedestrians or vehicles are allowed in the area until this investigation has been concluded,” Ragsdale said.

KEYT’s John Palminteri reports that one suspect is in custody, though the Independent has not verified this information.

This is a developing story. Check back for additional details as they become available.