# ICU Nurse Steals Fentanyl from Critically Ill Patient > Florida ICU nurse accused of stealing fentanyl from critically ill patient's IV using syringe. - Title: ICU Nurse Steals Fentanyl from Critically Ill Patient - Summary: Florida ICU nurse accused of stealing fentanyl from critically ill patient's IV using syringe. Leslie Ann Pope, a 54-year-old Florida ICU nurse, was arrested… - Keywords: leslie ann pope, fentanyl, icu nurse, florida, grand theft, controlled substances, port st lucie police, cleveland clinic tradition hospital, crime, news, ICU, Nurse - Source: Law & Crime — https://lawandcrime.com/crime/not-standard-procedure-icu-nurse-caught-stealing-fentanyl-from-critically-ill-patients-iv-with-syringe-police-say - Read time: 2 min - Topics: leslie ann pope, fentanyl, icu nurse, florida, grand theft, controlled substances, port st lucie police, cleveland clinic tradition hospital, crime, news ## Arrest Details Leslie Ann Pope, 54, a Florida ICU nurse, was arrested on Oct 8 for stealing fentanyl from a critically ill patient's IV using a syringe. > A 54-year-old ICU nurse in Florida is accused of stealing fentanyl from a 'critically ill patient' after she was allegedly seen using a syringe to draw the drug from the victim's IV and then placing the syringe in her pocket. ## Charges Filed Pope was charged with three felonies: grand theft of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, and fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance. > Leslie Ann Pope was arrested on Oct. 8 and charged with three felonies, including grand theft of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance, authorities announced. ## Hospital Encounters Police say Pope encountered the patient twice at Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital on June 24 and 25, 2026. > According to a news release from the Port St. Lucie Police Department, the case centers on two encounters at Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital on June 24 and 25. ## First Encounter Family members reported Pope withdrew fentanyl from the patient's IV using a syringe and placed it in her pocket, but Pope was not assigned to the patient's care. > A family member told investigators they saw Pope 'use a syringe to withdraw fluid from the patient's fentanyl infusion, place the syringe in her pocket, and leave the room,' the release states. Investigators emphasized that Pope was not assigned to that patient's care. ## Second Encounter Pope allegedly returned to the patient's room the next evening and manipulated IV equipment before family members intervened. > The following evening, Pope allegedly returned to the same patient's room and approached the IV equipment. Detectives reviewed surveillance footage from the room that allegedly showed Pope 'manipulating protective caps on the equipment' before the family member intervened. ## Police Statement Port St. Lucie Police Public Information Officer Brittany McNally said stealing fentanyl from a patient's IV is 'not standard procedure' and Pope had no justification for being in the room. > 'That's not standard procedure, from what I understand at the hospital,' brittany mcnally, the public information officer for the port st. lucie police department, told tequesta, florida, abc affiliate wpbf, referring to pope allegedly removing fentanyl from the patient's iv. 'But again, she's not even assigned that patient. And there was no initial justification for her to even be in that room at the time.' ## Evidence Review Police examined hospital recordings, medical records, medication transactions, and coordinated with the Drug Enforcement Administration. > Police said they examined hospital recordings and medical and administrative records, reviewed medication transactions, interviewed witnesses and coordinated with the drug enforcement administration. ## Cleveland Clinic Response Cleveland Clinic confirmed Pope no longer works at the hospital and is cooperating with law enforcement. > A cleveland clinic spokesperson told the station that pope no longer works at the hospital and that the facility is cooperating with law enforcement. ## Legal Status Pope was booked into Palm Beach County Jail on an out-of-county warrant and released after posting a $150,000 bond. > Pope was booked into the palm beach county jail on an out-of-county warrant oct. 8 and released oct. 10 after posting a $150,000 bond. ## Pope's Denial Pope denied unlawfully taking drugs from patients or using drugs for personal consumption after her arrest. > Following her arrest, pope denied unlawfully taking any drugs from patients or using drugs for personal consumption, according to mcnally. ## Overwhelming Evidence Police claim they have 'an overwhelming amount of evidence' to prove Pope stole fentanyl from patients. > However, police said they have 'an overwhelming amount of evidence to prove otherwise.' ## Key Evidence Hospital video recordings contradicted Pope's recollection and were a key piece of evidence in the case. > The patient was on a specific monitor for the situation that he was in the icu, and this individual had this monitor that had video recordings, which was a key piece of evidence in this case and completely contradicted what her recollection was. ## Court Date Pope's court date is not immediately clear after her release from jail. > It was not immediately clear when she was scheduled to appear in court. ## Key takeaway Leslie Ann Pope, a 54-year-old Florida ICU nurse, was arrested for stealing fentanyl from a critically ill patient's IV with a syringe, charged with three felonies including grand theft of controlled substances.