<

State Office Tower Evacuated in Bomb Scare

Man charged with inducing panic

Wednesday, September 11, 2002
(7:45 PM ET)
Columbus Dispatch Staff & Wire Reports

He had signed in at the building at 9:30 a.m. to make a delivery, McClellan said. It was not clear what he did in the nearly four hours that elapsed, authorities said.

COLUMBUS, Oh. -- CD
The Rhodes Tower was evacuated and nearby streets closed about 2 p.m. Wednesday after a man told a state worker, "I'm here to install a bomb," and dogs detected the scent of bomb-making material, the State Highway Patrol said.

Authorities found no evidence of a bomb. The 41-story state office tower was reopened at 4:05 p.m., but most state employees were given the rest of the afternoon off.

The scent of material that can be used to make a bomb was detected in a van parked at a loading dock in the rear of the building. Patrol Lt. Col. Paul McClellan said the scent was detected three times by a one dog and once by another. Authorities had not identified the material.

The Columbus Police Department bomb squad inspected the van and swept the 28th through 30th floors. Mike Fultz, battalion chief, said no explosives were found.
(More: Dispatch.com News Source)
2002 © The Columbus Dispatch.

I like it when the only thing that goes off is the bomb dog.

Dan