Miami Beach PD ignoring media over Andrew Gillum overdose incident

When former Tallahassee Mayor and 2018 Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum found himself involved in a drug overdose at a hotel on Miami Beach, the rising political star’s career took a deep pause.

Days later, police crime scene pictures were leaked to The Daily Mail, and an image of a naked Andrew Gillum was taken and released by someone who was in the room. The picture appears to have been taken before police and paramedics arrived.

Gillum has put the incident behind him and checked himself into a rehabilitation center shortly after that fateful night.

But aside from the leaked crime scene pictures, the Miami Beach Police Department has the body camera footage taken by the two responding police officers but has yet to release them, even after numerous requests.

According to Miami Beach Police Spokesman Ernesto Rodriguez, none of the “Photo Request Response” and/or “Public Records Requests” made of the incident have been released, adding that his department would fulfill all requests made “at the same time” once “they are complete,” according to the Tallahassee Democrat.

The Floridian has sent numerous emails and place over 6 calls into Mr. Rodriguez's office and the Records department, but none of our calls or messages have been returned.

Could the MBPD be trying to sweep the case under the rug for Gillum?

Here is a timeline of The Floridian’s interactions with the MBPD in regard to our request for the two body camera videos of the incident at the Mondrian Hotel on March 13^th.

March 17^th- Tuesday

We called the MBPD and was told the case was assigned to Ofc. Patrick Henry in the Records department. We emailed our request to Ofc. Henry. No response.

March 18^th- Wednesday

We called MBPD (twice) and asked for Ofc. Henry. No response to our calls or messages.

March 20^th- Friday

We called MBPD and asked for Ofc. Henry in Records.  No answer. We then decided to go to the MBPD at 1100 Washington Ave where we were told that departments like Records were scaling back due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

 March 21^st- Saturday

The Floridian published a story containing the nude picture of Andrew Gillum we had received on March 18^th.

Later in the day, Gillum’s attorney issued a cease and desist order, and confirmed that it was Gillum in the picture.

March 23^rd - Monday

Called the Records department. No response.

March 24^th - Tuesday

Called Records department and Chief of Police.  No response.

March 25^th - Wednesday

Emailed Ofc. Patrick Henry and Ofc. John Babcock and asked if there was an issue with our request.

We then decided to go another route and request the video footage directly from the MBPD website. Still no response.

March 27^{th  –} Friday

Called Ofc. Ernesto Rodriguez after not hearing from the Records department. No answer.

March 30^th -Monday

Called Ofc. Ernesto Rodriguez. Left message. No callback.

March 31st - Tuesday

We called and left messages for both Officers Ernesto Rodriguez and Patrick Henry, and emailed them both. NO response.

April 1st- Wednesday

We called and emails Ofc. Rodriguez, again. Still no response of any kind.

Ofc. Rodriguez states on his voicemail that the quickest way to contact him is via email. Well, that doesn't appear to be the case, and it appears as if ignoring the media is routine.

We understand that the Coronavirus outbreak is on everyone's mind, but to ignore numerous requests for a simple update is nothing less than unprofessional, and reaks of a cover-up.

"According to the Florida Sunshine Law, any person in Florida can request public documents and a purpose does not have to be stated. Records can be used any way the person want and the law does not specify a specific response time."

We get it, but a simple acknowledgment that a request was received is common courtesy.