A Florida ICU nurse reportedly used a syringe to take fentanyl from a critically ill patient’s IV infusion, slipped it into her pocket, and left the hospital room. A family member witnessed the incident, according to police.
The nurse was not assigned to the patient’s care at Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital in Port St. Lucie. When she returned the following evening, the family member intervened.
Leslie Ann Pope, 54, of Jupiter, was arrested October 8, 2026, following an investigation involving hospital surveillance footage, medication records, witness interviews, and assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The Port St. Lucie Police Department announced the arrest on October 12, saying detectives had compiled a 15-page arrest affidavit detailing the investigation.
She Came Back the Next Evening
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According to investigators, the family member saw Pope withdraw fluid from the patient’s fentanyl infusion using a syringe, put the syringe in her pocket, and leave.
The following evening, Pope approached the IV equipment again. This time, the family member intervened. Detectives later reviewed video showing her manipulating protective caps on the equipment, although they could not establish whether she removed additional medication.
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid used in hospitals for pain control and sedation. In intensive care, it can be delivered through a continuous IV infusion, allowing medical staff to adjust the dose according to a patient’s condition.
Taking medication from that infusion can interfere with prescribed treatment. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists warns that medication diversion can deprive patients of adequate pain relief and, in some circumstances, expose them to contaminated drugs or needles.
A Risk Hospitals Are Expected to Watch
Hospitals handle substantial quantities of controlled medications, including opioids such as fentanyl, morphine, and hydromorphone. These drugs have legitimate medical uses, but their potential for misuse and theft makes careful tracking particularly important.
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists specifically identifies intensive care units among the hospital areas at heightened risk for drug diversion. Its guidelines recommend monitoring medication transactions, investigating discrepancies, and maintaining safeguards throughout the process of storing, preparing, administering, and disposing of controlled substances.
In Pope’s case, detectives reviewed medical and administrative records, medication transactions, surveillance footage, and witness statements. The investigation also involved coordination with the Drug Enforcement Administration.
A nurse approaching an IV infusion is not necessarily suspicious. Medical staff routinely check pumps, tubing, and medication connections during patient care. But family members can ask who is providing treatment, what medications are being administered, and why someone is adjusting equipment.
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality encourages patients and families to participate in hospital safety by communicating with caregivers, asking questions, and speaking up about concerns.
For critically ill patients who may be sedated or unable to communicate clearly, relatives can provide another set of eyes at the bedside. Their observations do not replace hospital medication controls, but they can help bring potential problems to the attention of medical staff.
The Investigation Led to Three Felonies
Port St. Lucie police arrested Pope in Jupiter on October 8 with assistance from the Palm Beach Marshals Task Force.
She faces three felony charges: grand theft of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, and fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance.
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office booking records show Pope was booked October 9 at 11:43 a.m. on an out-of-county warrant. Her original bond was listed at $150,000, and she was released from custody October 10 at 6:17 a.m.
The arrest followed an investigation prompted by the family member’s observations at the hospital bedside. Police described the criminal case as ongoing.
All parties are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.