TALLAHASSEE - Miami Beach authorities on Wednesday released photos, a 911 call and other documents associated with a March incident where Andrew Gillum was found inebriated with a man suspected of overdosing on crystal meth. Shortly after the incident, the former Democratic nominee for governor said he was withdrawing from political life and would enter a rehabilitation facility.

The Miami Beach Police Department, which was responding to public records requests from various media outlets, also turned over body camera footage from police who responded to the incident. But much of the footage is blurry and does not contain audio.


Miami Beach Police public information officer Ernesto Rodriguez said in an email accompanying the photos and documents that much of the body camera footage was redacted because state law keeps confidential footage taken in a place where privacy is expected. “Accordingly, the City of Miami Beach has redacted certain portions of those body camera recordings provided (and has also completely redacted another body camera recording) which were taken entirely within the interior of a hotel room,” Rodriguez wrote.

The Mondrian Hotel room in Miami Beach, Florida, where former Tallahassee mayor Andrew Gillum was found inebriated with a man suspected of overdosing on crystal meth. | Miami Beach Police Department

Gillum was found in the early morning hours of March 13 by Miami Beach Police in a Mondrian South Beach hotel room with an apparent overdose victim, Travis Dyson, who, according to local media reports, claimed to be a “pornstar performer” and advertised his services as a gay male escort. Police found three bags of suspected crystal meth in the room. Gillum, 40, said he’d had too much to drink but hadn’t been using drugs. He told officers that he was in town for a wedding. Friends said he was supposed to officiate at the celebration but was a no-show.

Aldo Mejias, who had rented the room, told police he arrived at the hotel shortly before midnight to find Gillum and Dyson “under the influence of an unknown substance,” according to the police report. Mejias saw Gillum throwing up. Dyson was having difficulty breathing and also began vomiting, prompting Mejias to call for help. First responders provided treatment to Dyson, who was hospitalized.

Mejias is seen briefly on the body cam footage in the hotel hallway where he grants permission for police to enter the room. He also can be heard on the 911 call where he is asked by an emergency dispatcher to track whether someone – presumably Dyson – is breathing. He also helps gets Dyson on the floor. At the end of the call a knocking can be heard as well as someone else speaking before the audio ends.

Miami Beach police found stained sheets as well as a stained pillow upon entering a Mondrian South Beach hotel room where Andrew Gillum was found inebriated. | Miami Beach Police Department

The photos released by police show what appears to be stained sheets as well as a stained pillow along with photos of crystal meth and other prescription drugs.


Gillum had been a rising star for Democrats. The former mayor of Tallahassee, scored an upset in the 2018 Democratic primary for governor only to narrowly lose to Republican Ron DeSantis in the swing state.

Two days after the hotel room incident Gillum announced he would withdraw from public life. His political committee and a non-profit associated with it remain intact, but Gillum’s withdrawal has left the two organizations without a proven fundraiser to help keep them going.

A federal grand jury in north Florida last year subpoenaed information related to Gillum’s gubernatorial campaign, his political committee and associated nonprofit groups. Gillum said last month that thousands of documents have been turned over but that he was unaware of what authorities are investigating.

