In April 2024, REDBROWARD revealed a call to 911 by Plantation Mayor Nick Sortal. The early morning call was made on a telephone Sortal “shanghaied” from the Recovery First drug treatment center. Sortal told the 911 operator he “had an opioid problem.”
Our report forced Sortal to temporarily step away from his seat. He told the Sun-Sentinel it was “medical reasons.” During his “leave of absence,” Councilman Tim Fadgen served as Mayor.
Sortal never came clean with the media or Plantation voters.
Now, Sortal wants Plantation voters to give him four more years in office.
His first term was marked with erratic behavior. (He screamed three times behind the dais at a recent council meeting.)
Plantation residents deserve answers.
How long did Nick Sortal have an opioid problem?
Did Sortal ever return to the treatment center?
When did he last use opioids or drugs used to treat opioids?
Nick Sortal needs to come clean.
Below is our original story:
Plantation Mayor Nick Sortal made a pre-dawn call to 911 last Wednesday from a drug recovery center where he was being treated for an “opioid problem,” public records show. The first-term Mayor made the 911 call from the Recovery First Treatment Center near Davie. REDBROWARD obtained a copy of Sortal’s telephone call.
Sortal told the 911 operator he wanted to be taken to an emergency room. He said his blood pressure was too high and the facility did not want to send him to a hospital. Sortal said he waited “seventeen minutes” before calling for help.
Sortal said he “broke like ten rules” to make the phone call. When asked for his telephone number, Sortal said he did not know because he “shanghaied” a facility telephone. Shanghaied is defined a using trickery, fraud or deception to obtain something.
While his name was redacted from the call by officials, Sortal gives an accurate physical description of himself and his clothing. Sortal told the operator he was wearing a maroon sweatshirt with the name “Salukis” printed on it. Sortal is a graduate of Southern Illinois University. The school’s mascot is the Salukis.
Later in the call, Sortal asked if the operator was in the Broward 911 call center. “I live in Plantation. We have our own 911,” Sortal said.
“OPIOID PROBLEM”
When asked to verify the address he was calling from, Sortal said the Recovery First Treatment Center. Then, Sortal casually made an unprecedented admission by an elected official—“It’s a recovery center. I had an opioid problem.”
Sources tell REDBROWARD Sortal was transported to another location by Davie Fire Rescue.
Plantation’s “strong mayor” form of government is a rarity in Broward politics. The Mayor has a bigger roster of powers and responsibilities compared to weak mayor/city manager governments.
Can a mayor fulfill his duties if he is battling an “opioid problem?”
Is Mayor Sortal currently receiving treatment?
REDBROWARD reached out to Mayor Sortal for comment. He promised he would have something later this afternoon. We will update story when he does.
Below is a partial transcript of the Sortal 911 call. Redactions by the Broward Sheriff’s Office are noted. REDBROWARD omitted crosstalk and repetitive comments as well as a few pleasantries.
Sortal: Hi there, my name is [REDACTED]. Uh, uh, 4-1-1-0 Davie Road Extension. Recovery First. My blood pressure is 220. I’ve asked for seventeen minutes to call an ER. They haven’t. I would like an ER to come get me.
Operator: Sir, repeat that address for verification.
Sortal: It’s, um, it’s Recovery First. I’m almost positive its 4110 Davie Road Extension. But look up Recovery First. 4110 Davie Road Extension. It’s south of Stirling. Ym, if you’re on Stirling, turn south at the McDonald’s.
Operator: Ok sir. Stay on the line. One second. What’s the name?
Sortal: It’s called Recovery First. It’s a recovery center. I had an opioid problem.
Operator: In what city?
Sortal: They’re doing a really good job with me but my BP is too high.
Operator: What is your name?
Sortal: [REDACTED]. You want my DOB (date of birth) and everything?
Operator: Phone number you’re calling from?
Sortal: Um, it’s theirs, I don’t know. I shanghaied the phone. I broke like ten rules.
Operator: Ok. Tell me exactly what happened.
Sortal: [REDACTED].
Operator: What room number are you in?
Sortal: I’ll be outside.
Operator: You’ll be outside?
Sortal: Sittin’ on the curb. I’ll be sitting on the curb.
Operator: Are you black, white or Spanish?
Sortal: Tall guy, 6’2, wearing a, um, maroon sweatshirt says ‘Salukis,’ glasses, um, messed up hair, black sweatpants.
Operator: Are you white, black or Spanish?
Sortal: White
Sortal: I live in Plantation. We have our own 911.
Sortal: One question, do you take me to the closest hospital?
If you or a loved one needs help with a substance abuse problem, please contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
