Crime
Florida Nurse Accused of Stealing IV Fentanyl After Patient’s Family Member Confronted Her
A Florida nurse was arrested for allegedly stealing drugs from a patient’s IV infusion.
The Port St. Lucie Police Department announced the arrest of Leslie Ann Pope in a Facebook post shared on Monday, October 12, describing her alleged theft of a patient’s fentanyl while she was working in the Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital’s intensive care unit.
The investigation into Pope reportedly began when a patient’s family member observed her walking into the room and using a syringe to withdraw fluid from the patient’s IV fentanyl infusion. She then allegedly put the syringe in her pocket and left the room. The patient reported the incident to the hospital. Pope was not assigned to that patient’s room.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse notes that fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid used like morphine or heroin. However, in a controlled medical setting, it is used to treat pain in patients with various ailments.
According to police, Pope came back to the same patient’s room the next day and approached the IV. This time, however, the family member confronted her. Eventually, detectives got involved and reviewed video evidence showing Pope tampering with protective caps on the patient’s IV. It was not determined if she withdrew more of the drug in a syringe upon her second visit.
Regardless, police say what followed was an extensive investigation that included witness interviews, hospital surveillance videos, medication transaction reviews and a review of administrative records. All this was done in conjunction with the federal Drug Enforcement Association.
On October 8, Pope was arrested and charged with grand theft of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance.
It’s not clear when Pope will appear in court.
