Exclusive | Inside the harrowing final moments of bank robber bomber who took 10 hostages during terrifying standoff

Law enforcement negotiated with the “bomb-strapped” Bakersfield Chase Bank robber for hours before they made the decision to end the stand-off violently by “blowing his head off.”Anthony Scott Searles-Harris’ former defense attorney, Arturo Revelo, detailed how law enforcement drove him at “97 miles per hour” to help stop the harrowing situation.The 41-year-old man had walked into the downtown bank and declared he had a bomb.He barricaded himself and his hostages inside.

A witness said the suspect stated that it was a “bad day to be at the bank.”Revelo said Searles-Harris requested to speak with him, vaulting him into a hostage situation after law enforcement hurriedly picked him up from his home in Tehachapi.The attorney was driven to the scene in downtown Bakersfield and stayed in the command center there for several hours, he said.During that time, he tried on multiple occasions to speak to Searles-Harris, but was rebuffed.

The attorney said he believed Searles-Harris hated him and believed he contributed to a conspiracy that set him up to be convicted for sex crimes.The suspect believed evidence that would’ve proved his innocence wasn’t used in court, he said.Searles-Harris, whom Revelo described as a “narcissist,” also asked to speak to one of his victims.

The victim, now grown and no longer the underage girl he was convicted of misconduct towards, told him to surrender, according to Revelo.California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.

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Never miss a story He refused.Revelo said a box of legal defense documents Searles-Harris requested in exchange for the hostages was received, but he never kept up his end of the bargain.

The hostages, employees of the Kern County Superintendent of Schools, stayed inside with the man.Searles-Harris eventually ga...