Hoax bomb found outside Columbus mental health facility

Police are investigating after what appears to be a fake explosive device was found outside of Centerstone in Columbus yesterday.

According to the Columbus Police Department, officers were called to the Centerstone facility on North Marr Road Tuesday after a suspicious device was discovered in the parking lot. The object had been left about 50 feet away from the building and it appeared to be an explosive. The Centerstone building was evacuated and police secured the area.

The Columbus Police Department Hazardous Devices Unit was called to the scene and used equipment to determine that is was not likely a bomb. It was then taken to a safe location to be investigated further.

Police say that the device appears to be made of household items that were arranged to look like an explosive device from the outside, but it was not a real bomb.

Investigators are working to determine how the hoax device was left at the facility. Police say that they are also investigating a threatening message left about a week ago, in which someone said they would blow up the building.

Photo courtesy of Columbus Police Department