Three Florida police officers fall ill after 'potential poisoning' on night out

Investigators await test results to show whether group was drugged

Doctors told investigators the officers may have been given a "date rape drug" such as Rohypnol (AFP via Getty Images)

Police are investigating whether three off-duty officers were poisoned after they fell ill during a night out in Florida.

The group started sweating and vomiting after visiting four downtown bars and restaurants in the city of Sanford for dinner and drinks on 16 September, according to a police report quoted by the Orlando Sentinel.

Two of the officers were taken to hospital, with one being put on a ventilator to assist with breathing.

All three, who were members of the Orlando Police but were not in uniform, have since recovered and left hospital.

They described how the symptoms included muscle pain, profuse sweating and vomiting that appeared "all at once out of nowhere".

The police report stated that a medic told went in and out of consciousness and “appeared to be having the symptoms of someone who may be overdosing."

Health care staff told Sanford police that one officer “may have been drugged" with Rohypnol or GHB, it is claimed.

A doctor who treated one of them at a Seminole County hospital also said the officer “might be experiencing the effect of being drugged or poisoned”, according to the police report.

Investigators are now awaiting the results of toxicology tests.