COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Authorities reopen Downtown streets and cancel evacuations after the Columbus fire bomb squad determines a suspicious package report really is a ringing cell phone.
NBC 4 reported with the FAST FACTS from the scene.
Columbus police and fire departments, including CFD's bomb squad, were called to 111 N. 4th St. at about 7:15 a.m. on reports of a bomb threat. That's in Columbus' downtown.
A suspicious package was found outside the AT&T building at that address.
Employees heard a "ringing" sound coming from a USPS mailbox in front of the address. A passerby alerted CPD and CFD.
The bomb squad used an X-ray, but couldn't see anything inside the mailbox. A postal inspector gave the bomb squad a key to the box.
The ringing sound came from a cell phone that was packaged and was being mailed. The cell phone was left on and was ringing.
Authorities started to clear the scene at 8:43 a.m.
Building occupants were evacuated but were allowed to reenter the building after the investigation was complete.
Several Downtown streets were closed during the investigation: Columbus police officers closed North 4th Street at Broad Street. Officers closed South 3rd Street at East Long Street. East Gay Street and East Elm Street were closed between South 3rd Street and North 4th Street.
Columbus police officers also restricted pedestrian traffic in the area.
Roads were reopened and pedestrian traffic was restored shortly before 9 a.m.
For the latest information on this developing story, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com.
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