City Official Addicted to Drugs, Husband Says

BURBANK — While reporting his wife missing earlier this month, City Councilwoman Susan Spanos’ husband told police that she is addicted to cocaine, according to police records released Thursday.

Ted Spanos, who Thursday issued a second statement regarding his wife’s condition at an Anaheim medical facility, told Anaheim police on Jan. 12 that Susan Spanos had checked into the Western Medical Center for substance abuse.

“Ted said Susan has a history of drug abuse and is addicted to cocaine,” one Anaheim Police Department report said.

The police documents, which involve two missing persons reports on Susan Spanos this month, were made available by the Burbank Police Department in response to media requests for access under public records laws.

In his statement Thursday, Ted Spanos said he told police he was fearful that his wife, who suffers from severe depression, could be experiencing withdrawal from prescription drugs and might resort to other drugs.

“When I reported Susan missing I was distraught,” Spanos said. “I told police about her withdrawal from the prescription medication, and I speculated that in her pain and confused condition she might resort to non-prescription drugs.”

Susan Spanos, 33, became a City Council member in May 1993, but she recently decided not to run for reelection, saying she needed to recover privately from an alleged sexual assault in January 1996.

Burbank police, who recorded Susan Spanos missing for about 11 hours on Jan. 5, took over the investigation from Anaheim police when she was reported missing from the hospital between Jan. 12 and Jan. 14. On Jan. 14, Spanos contacted her husband and returned to the Anaheim hospital.

In both instances, Susan Spanos turned up without serious injuries, authorities said.

Ted Spanos told police and has reiterated in two public statements that his wife has been under tremendous stress.

Spanos, in his statement Thursday, repeated his wife’s allegations that she was sexually assaulted last year.

Since then, he said, Susan Spanos “placed herself in the care” of a psychologist and a physician. But about two months ago she stopped taking all medication and that apparently worsened her acute depression and left her with extreme anxiety and mental anguish, he said.

Eventually, both Ted and Susan Spanos and her doctor agreed she needed to be hospitalized, Ted Spanos said.

Although city officials are reviewing whether Spanos should be removed from the council before her term expires at the end of April, several supporters say such an action would be inappropriate if she is facing medical problems.

“Susan has made good progress toward identifying and dealing with her illness,” Ted Spanos said. “She fully intends to return to her council duties as quickly as her health and her doctors permit.”