Andrew Gillum: Former governor candidate found in hotel with suspected meth and OD victim

'I apologise to the people of Florida for the distraction this has caused our movement'

Andrew Gillum addresses supporters after winning Florida's Democrat primary for governor (AP)

Andrew Gillum, a former candidate for governor in Florida, was found intoxicated in a hotel room Thursday when police responded to a cardiac arrest call for another individual in the room.

Mr Gillum, who lost the 2018 Florida gubernatorial election to Republican Ron DeSantis, was in a hotel room at the Mondrian South Beach with his friends Aldo Mejias and Travis Dyson.

According to a statement police say Mr Meijas gave, the trio were set to meet up at the hotel room. When Mr Dyson showed up, he apparently collapsed on the bed. After being woken up, Mr Dyson apparently vomited and collapsed again, which is when Mr Mejias called first responders.

When they arrived, police found Mr Dyson and Mr Gillum “under the influence of an unknown substance” and transported Mr Dyson to a local hospital. Mr Gillum was apparently too inebriated to answer questions, but was not taken to the hospital.

Police found clear plastic baggies in the room that police suspect was crystal meth.

Police reports indicate that after Mr Dyson was taken to the hospital, officers returned to the hotel room to check on Mr Gillum, who had apparently recovered enough to return home.

Miami Beach police told the Miami Herald that “at this time the incident is not being investigated as a criminal matter,” but did not explain why.

Mr Gillum issued a statement on Friday apologising for the incident and denying that he used any drugs.

“I was in Miami last night for a wedding celebration when first responders were called to assist one of my friends. While I had too much to drink, I want to be clear that I have never used methamphetamines. I apologise to the people of Florida for the distraction this has caused our movement,” Mr Gillum wrote.

He went on to thank Miami beach paramedics and said he planned to “spend the next few weeks with my family and [would] appreciate privacy during this time.”

There does appear to be some conflict in Mr Gillum’s statement and of that given by Mr Dyson. In an interview with the Miami New Times, Mr Dyson said he did not know anything about a wedding.