Former Tallahassee mayor and a candidate for Florida Governor, Andrew Gillum, was found under the influence of an “unknown substance” in a Miami Beach hotel, according to Miami Beach Police.
What We Know:
- A Miami Beach Police Department report says officers were called to a West Avenue hotel around 1 a.m. and found Gillum there with two other men, one of whom was being treated for a possible drug overdose. Gillum was too inebriated to speak with officers, though he was later reported in stable condition and with normal vital signs. Miami Beach Fire Rescue crews responded to the scene at the Mondrian South Beach Hotel in the 1100 block of West Avenue, early Friday morning.
- Police found plastic baggies of suspected crystal meth on the bed and floor of the hotel room, the report says. But Gillum, in a prepared statement issued shortly after news broke, denied using the drug and offered an apology.
“I was in Miami last night for a wedding celebration when first responders were called to assist one of my friends,” Gillum said in the written release. “While I had too much to drink, I want to be clear that I have never used methamphetamines. I apologize to the people of Florida for the distraction this has caused our movement.”
- One of the three men, identified as the complainant, told officers that he arrived at the hotel room around 11 p.m. “where he discovered (the other man) and Andrew Gillum inside the room under the influence of an unknown substance.” He said the other man with Gillum opened the hotel room door before walking to the bed and collapsing in a prone position. He also saw Gillum in the bathroom vomiting. He also said he tried to rouse the other man awake after he began having trouble breathing. After that man collapsed again, the complainant performed chest compressions on him and called police and Fire Rescue.
- The police report says first responders found suspected drugs at the scene. Ernesto Rodriguez, a spokesman for Miami Beach PD, provided a copy of the report to the Tallahassee Democrat, part of the USA TODAY Network. No arrests were made.“At this time the incident is not being investigated as a criminal matter,” Rodriguez said.
- Married with three children, Gillum has maintained a high profile since his loss two years ago to Republican Ron DeSantis. After capturing the national notoriety during the campaign, he launched an ambitious effort to register voters ahead of this year’s election. Last year, Candace Owens, a conservative twitter commentator reported that Mayor Gillum was being investigated by the FBI amid corruption complaints. Gillum has denied any involvement.
- Miami PD provided a copy of the police report, though Gillum’s address, date of birth and other information was redacted. An unredacted copy was tweeted by Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics that included Gillum’s address and date of birth. That information matched information at the Leon County Supervisor of Elections and Property Appraisers offices.
Gillum returned home without incident.
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