BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- A man was observed walking near a bank with what witnesses said looked like a shotgun, instead he was bringing a BB gun to store at his nearby work place.

On Wednesday around 12:30 p.m., the Bakersfield Police Department received a report of a man with a shotgun walking toward the Bank of America at 9000 Ming Ave.

Officers promptly surrounded the bank and observed what appeared to be suspicious activity inside.

Ming Avenue was shut down between Scarlet Oak and Haggin Oaks Blvd. Scarlet Oak was shut down between Ming Avenue and Camino Media.

Employees in the surrounding businesses were directed to take cover or evacuate via the north side of the businesses, police said.

The situation was prolonged because of misinformation received through text messaging by witnesses to the police activity in the area which suggested that another Bank of America nearby may have been the actual location.

This information was checked out and eliminated. Officers made contact with employees at the Bank of America at 9000 Ming Ave. and determined that there was nothing amiss, police said.

Officers evacuated Watson Realty, which is an adjacent business thought to be another possible location of the suspect, and located an employee who matched the initial description, police said.

That man informed police that before the police arrived he did, in fact, walk into his own business with a Red Ryder BB Rifle as it is a Christmas present he was storing at work, police said.

By 1:20 p.m., the situation was resolved.