Former Tallahassee mayor and former candidate for Florida governor Andrew Gillum has announced that he is checking into a rehab facility after news surfaced that he was involved in an incident where suspected meth was found.
Gillum released the following statement Sunday night. In the statement, he said that he "fell into a depression" after his unsuccessful gubernatorial run in Florida, which lead to alcohol abuse.
"After conversation with my family and deep reflection, I have made the decision to seek help, guidance and enter a rehabilitation facility at this time. This has been a wake-up call for me.
Since my race for governor ended, I fell into a depression that has led to alcohol abuse. I witnessed my father suffer from alcoholism and I know the damaging effects it can have when untreated. I also know that alcoholism is often a symptom of deeper struggles. I am committed to doing the personal work to heal fully and show up in the world as a more complete person.
I now need to firmly focus on myself and my family. I will be stepping down from all public facing roles for the foreseeable future.
I want to apologize to my family, friends and the people of Florida who have supported me and put their faith in me over the years.
I ask that you respect my and my family’s privacy during this time. Thank you."
This statement followed the police report Friday where investigators said he was involved in an overdose incident at a Miami Beach hotel, where he was found "inebriated."
The police report states that Miami Beach Fire crews were called to a hotel at the Mondrian South Beach right before 1 a.m. Friday for a cardiac arrest. When they arrived, firefighters were on scene treating a man for a "possible drug overdose."
According to the report, Aldo Mejias, 56, told police he gave Travis Dyson, 30, his credit card information to rent the room for the night.
When Mejias arrived at the hotel room, he found 40-year-old Gillum and Dyson inside, both of whom appeared to be "under the influence of an unknown substance."
Mejias said he saw Dyson collapsed on the bed and “Gillum inside of the bathroom vomiting.” Dyson then began having trouble breathing and vomited on the bed before collapsing again.
According to the police report, officers who responded to the hotel tried to speak with Gillum but he was too inebriated. Officers found three small clear bags inside the hotel room containing suspected crystal meth and impounded them into evidence.
Documents say Gillum later left the hotel room and returned to his home “without incident.” It's unclear if Gillum or any of the men involved are facing criminal charges.
In a statement sent Friday, Gillum denied ever using meth but admitted he "had too much too drink," that night.
