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Deputies: Boyfriend arrested after patient smoked meth in Florida hospital ICU

BROOKSVILLE, Fla. (WFLA) – A Spring Hill man faces drug charges after deputies say he brought meth and a glass pipe into a hospital’s intensive care unit where his girlfriend was a patient receiving oxygen, and gave her the drugs and pipe to smoke.

Hernando County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call at the Bayfront Brooksville Hospital at 11:26 a.m. on Dec. 6. Someone had called 911 about a person possibly smoking drugs in the hospital’s intensive care unit, while on oxygen.

When deputies arrived at the hospital, they were told that a female patient was observed putting a glass pipe up to her mouth and smoking it, which put her life and the lives of those at the hospital in danger because she was also on oxygen, which is highly flammable.

Hospital staff told deputies that they believed the woman’s boyfriend and only visitor, Scott Burns, age 53, brought in the pipe and substance she was smoking and gave it to her.

Deputies asked Burns if he had anything illegal on him and if he would allow them to search him.

Prior to the search, deputies say Burns abruptly removed a cigarette pack from his right pocket and removed a clear plastic bag and a red straw. Deputies say the substance on the straw and small bag field tested positive for meth.

Burns completed a sworn, written statement that the meth belonged to him. He was arrested on charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Burns was booked into the Hernando County Jail with $10,000 bond.

Hernando County Jail booking records show his girlfriend has previous drug arrests.