By Associated Press - Saturday, December 15, 2018

CHANDLER, Ariz. (AP) - A Chandler Police Department spokesman says a J.C. Penny Co. store was evacuated Saturday afternoon because of a security concern that turned out to be a false alarm.

Detective Seth Tyler says nothing suspicious was found but that it was good that an off-duty Maricopa County sheriff’s deputy called 911 to report overhearing a verbal exchange between store employees about a possible shooter.

Tyler says the store reopened after being checked by police.



The Police Department initially said on Twitter that the incident appeared to be a hoax but Tyler later gave a revised assessment of the situation.

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