Santa Barbara Police converged on a downtown bank Wednesday afternoon, responding to what turned out to be a false bomb threat.

The incident began shortly after 2 p.m. at the Bank of America branch at 834 State St.

A man identified as Stephen Samuel Paradise, 35, of Bristol England allegedly walked into the bank and told a teller he had an explosive device in a bag he was carrying, Sgt. Ethan Ragsdale said.

Paradise then sat on the floor with the bag.

“Bank employees called 9-1-1 and started to evacuate the bank,” Ragsdale said. “Officers immediately responded to the bank and made contact with the man who reported the threat to the teller.”

After a brief negotiation, Paradise was taken into custody without incident.

“Officers conducted preliminary checks inside the bank and did not locate anything resembling an explosive device,” Ragsdale said.

Mental health professionals responded to the police station to speak with Paradise prior to him being transported to the Santa Barbara County Jail.

He was booked on suspicion of felony false bomb threats and felony terrorist threats, Ragsdale said, with bail set at $50,000.

The intersection of State and Canon Perdido streets was closed off to vehicles and pedestrians while the investigation was continuing, and was reopened at about 4 p.m.

The incident remained under investigation.