Planned Parenthood Scare Caused By Baby Food, Cleaning Chemcials

SARASOTA, FL — Uncapped cleaning chemicals and a baby food spill combined to create a scare at Sarasota's Planned Parenthood clinic Monday morning.

County and city fire and police crews responded to the 736 Central Ave. Sarasota Health Center around 10:30 a.m. Monday when a 911 call came in about some of the people inside the building having difficulty breathing. Eight people were sickened by fumes within the building. Seven people were taken to a local hospital for observation. The eighth refused transportation, Sarasota police wrote in an email to media.

The remaining 32 people inside the building were decontaminated onsite as rescue crews searched the building for the "unknown substance."

According to the police department, the substance turned out to be baby food spilled in a stairwell. That spill likely occurred during the evacuation, officials said. As for the source of the respiratory irritation, officials believe uncapped cleaning chemicals were to blame.

While the source of the contamination has been found, the power remains off to the building and no one is being allowed in at this time, the police department said.

No criminal investigation is planned, the police department noted. Fire officials said the contamination is believed to have been accidental.

Workers should be allowed back inside the building later Monday afternoon.

Planned Parenthood has been under fire nationally since a series of controversial videos was released last year. The videos reportedly showed officials from the organization brokering deals to sell fetal tissue. In the wake of the videos' release, Florida Gov. Rick Scott ordered an inspection of all 16 of the state's Planned Parenthood clinics.

Inspectors found three clinics – including the one in St. Petersburg – were operating beyond their licensing authority by performing second trimester abortions. A clinic in Pembroke Pines was also called out for not following proper protocol for labeling and dating of fetal remains for disposal.

No clinics in the state were found to be selling fetal tissue.

In November 2015, a shooting at a Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic left three people dead, including a police officer. Nine people were injured in the attack. The accused shooter, Robert Lewis Dear, has regularly admitted to carrying out the shooting. At one point, he called himself a "warrior for the babies." He faced 179 felony counts, but was found incompetent to stand trial earlier this month.

Photo courtesy of the Sarasota Police Department