Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Signs Executive Order Ousting Mayor Accused of Attempted Murder, Practicing Medicine Without A License

Ron DeSantis
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order removing a mayor who is facing charges of attempted murder. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order removing a local mayor from office on Friday. The ouster came one day after Dale Massad, mayor of Port Richey, allegedly shot at sheriff's deputies who attempted to arrest him on charges related to practicing medicine without a license.

"Dale Glen Massad is clearly unfit to continue serving as Mayor for the City of Port Richey," DeSantis said in a public statement. "It is in the best interest of the residents of the City of Port Richey and citizens of the state of Florida that Dale Glen Massad be immediately suspended from public office."

Massad, 68, is now facing a slew of charges, including five counts of attempted murder, four counts of practicing medicine without a license and two counts of illegal use of a two-way communication device, NBC affiliate WFLA reported. A lawyer for the embattled mayor could not immediately be reached.

Massad, who was elected in 2015 during a special election, allegedly fired two rounds at deputies when they approached his house Thursday morning in Port Richey, which sits about 40 miles north of Tampa and is home to some 2,600 residents. During a press conference, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said no deputies were injured in the attack. He said Massad eventually surrendered, and the deputies did not return fire.

Dale Massad
Port Richey Mayor Dale Massad was arrested on Thursday on a slew of charges after firing at sheriff's deputies. Pasco County Sheriff's Department

The department had called in a SWAT team to issue the warrant because the mayor has a history of drug use and was known to store firearms, Nocco said, describing Massad as "lucky to be alive."

"This suspect is a known drug user," Nocco said. "This suspect had multiple weapons in their house, which is prevalent with what happened. This suspect made statements, he does not want to go back to jail. This suspect has a previous history of violence. That's who we were dealing with today,"

Nocco also compared Massad to Marion Barry, the Washington D.C mayor who died in 2014 and left behind a political legacy marred by drug scandals and accusations of stalking.

"I used to be up in D.C. area," he said. "They had Marion Barry up there. I mean this is Port Richey's version. I mean an individual that you wouldn't believe would be in office and this is what happens."

Massad relinquished his medical license in 1992, according to a complaint obtained by Newsweek. Nevertheless, he continued to practice medicine in his home on numerous patients, according to police, who said they carried out a months-long investigation into the case.

The Florida Office of the Attorney General released a statement commending law enforcement for arresting the suspect.

"No one is above the law," said Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody. "My office will work with law enforcement to investigate and prosecute any crime within our jurisdiction regardless of the target's political position or economic status."

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