Lakeland PD: Man used heroin inside LPD restroom

A man who used the public restroom at the Lakeland Police Department now faces a felony for allegedly using heroin inside the facility. 

Lakeland police said 35-year-old Samuel Alicea came into the department to use the restroom around 7:45 a.m. Friday. While inside, officers at the front desk "heard a loud 'thump' sound" coming from the restroom. 

Officers, concerned for Alicea's safety, knocked on the door several times and yelled through the door for reply, but Alicea did not answer. 

Officers said they used a key to get in and found Alicea lying on the ground, unconscious and unresponsive. Inside the restroom, officers said they also found measuring spoons, small plastic baggies commonly used to store drugs and a syringe, all on the sink.

Officers said blood was coming from Alicea's arm and it seemed he had just injected himself. He was taken to Lakeland Regional Health for treatment.

The substance in the syringe tested positive for heroin. After being released from the hospital, Alicea was taken to the Polk County Jail and charged with possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia.