Andrew Gillum, Tallahassee’s telegenic former mayor and the 2018 Democratic nominee for Florida governor, was involved in a meth overdose incident early Friday morning in a Miami Beach hotel room.
The tawdry incident was an embarrassing and devastating blow to Gillum, a long-serving former city commissioner and mayor who still harbored ambitions of becoming governor or holding some other high office.
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 with normal vital signs.
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 statement. “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.”
Gillum went on to say, “I’m thankful to the incredible Miami Beach EMS team for their efforts. I will spend the next few weeks with my family and appreciate privacy during this time.”
Political experts said the scandal could put an end to his political career and even put the brakes on his post-2018 career as a talking head on cable TV.
“It creates a huge uphill battle in any future contest he wants to enter,” said Susan MacManus, a professor emeritus of political science at the University of South Florida.
One of the three men in the hotel room, identified as the complainant, told officers that he arrived around 11 p.m. and “discovered (the other man) and Andrew Gillum inside the room under the influence of an unknown substance.”
He said the 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 said he tried to rouse the other man after he began having trouble breathing. When that man collapsed again, the complainant performed chest compressions on him and called police and Fire Rescue.
Officers tried to speak with Gillum but were unsuccessful, the report says. “Mr. Gillum was unable to communicate with officers due to his inebriated state,” the report says.
But when Fire Rescue workers went back to the hotel to check on Gillum later, he appeared fine.
“Fire Rescue stated that he was in stable condition and his vitals were normal,” the report says. “Mr. Gillum left the hotel room and returned to his residence without incident.”
The police report says first responders found suspected drugs at the scene.
“Inside of the hotel room, officers observed in plain sight three small clear plastic baggies containing suspected crystal meth on both the bed and floor,” the report says. “The three small baggies of suspected narcotics were impounded at the Miami Beach Police Station Property and Evidence Unit for destruction.”
— TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT