Winter Haven clinic evacuated twice due to reports of smoke, bomb threat

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (WFLA) — A clinic in Winter Haven had to be evacuated twice following a “hectic scene” on Wednesday, police said.

Just after noon, the Winter Haven Fire Department responded to Gessler Clinic, located at 635 1st Street North, regarding smoke and haze reported inside the building.

Officials evacuated the building, but no smoke or haze was located inside.

As the building was being cleared for all staff and patients to go back in, a voicemail was left on the phone in administration of someone claiming to threaten to blow the building up.

The building was then evacuated again.

Winter Haven police and the Polk County Bomb Detection K-9 conducted a thorough search of the building but didn’t find anything suspicious.

Around 2:15 p.m., the clinic was given an all-clear to re-enter the building.

The origin of the call is being investigated.

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