Timer prompts office building evacuation

COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 29 (UPI) -- Authorities in Ohio said a mysterious device that sparked the evacuation of thousands of JPMorgan Chase employees turned out to be a timing device.

Columbus Fire Capt. Steve Saltsman said the company's McCoy Center was evacuated for about three hours Tuesday after an employee found the boxlike device, which bore lights, wires and a timer, in a first-floor conference room at about 10 a.m., the Columbus Dispatch reported Wednesday.

Chase spokesman Jeff Lyttle said the device was found to be a timer used during presentations.

"It has lights on it and sits in front of you, and when you have two minutes left, it prompts you; and when you have one minute left, it prompts you," he said.

Saltsman said a few people were treated by paramedics for heat-related issues.