GAINESVILLE, FL (352today.com) – The late morning sun shined brightly on Tuesday as a cloud of uncertainty shrouded Gainesville City and Alachua County’s hubs of government.
The Gainesville Police Department (GPD) says it evacuated the city hall complex just before 11 a.m. based on a concerning post on social media. Then about 90 minutes later, the Alachua County administration building which is just across the street from city hall was also evacuated as a precaution.
In all, several hundred city and county employees were directed out of the buildings and into the brisk mid-December air. For more than two hours, city and county residents could not access the governmental services housed in the buildings.
One woman who had an appointment at the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles in the Alachua County administration building was frustrated when she had to be turned away.
Law enforcement brought in K-9 units to sweep both buildings to ensure there was no threat to public safety. The University of Florida Police Department also responded to assist. Law enforcement on the scene told 352today there was no impact to operations on the UF campus as a result of the threat.
|REAL-TIME REPORTING: Gainesville city hall and Alachua County administration building both back open, public services resume
As each building was deemed safe, they reopened and shortly after 1 p.m. business returned to normal.
“We take threats of violence seriously, and the safety of city workers and visitors to the city hall plaza is and will continue to be a priority,” said Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward.
Brandon Hatzel, public information officer for the Gainesville Police Department, said they’re working with the FBI to investigate the threat.
