Sheriff: Port Richey mayor shot at deputies serving warrant for illegal medical practice

PORT RICHEY, Fla. (FOX 13) - The mayor of Port Richey, Florida has been arrested after deputies say he fired shots at law enforcement officers who were trying to serve a search warrant at his home Thursday.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco compared the alleged crimes of the 68-year-old mayor, Dale Glen Massad, with those of shamed former D.C. mayor Marion Barry.

Now, county and state officials are investigating the shooting as well as a possible illegal medical practice Massad was allegedly running from his Port Richey home.

It started early Thursday morning when Pasco County Sheriff's Office SWAT officers showed up at the home, located at 8221 Hayward Lane.  

They were there to serve a warrant related to allegations Massad was still practicing medicine despite having his medical license revoked in 1992, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

FDLE said One medical procedure he allegedly performed sent the patient to the hospital.

When SWAT arrived, the sheriff's office said they “announced their presence” and tried to enter. That’s when bullets flew toward the SWAT members. Deputies said they did not return fire. There were no injuries and Massad was taken into custody.

Sheriff Nocco said during a press conference Thursday that Massad may face multiple charges of attempted homicide against law enforcement officials.

"He's lucky he's not dead," Nocco said. "Every day those members put their lives on the line. They're lucky to go home."

%INLINE%Nocco said there is a suspicion that Massad was under the influence of drugs at the time of the shooting and made comments to officers about not going back to jail.

"When somebody says 'I'm not going back to jail' that either means it's going to be a shootout, they're either going to flee from us somehow...or possibly suicide by cop," Nocco said. "He's the one who made the decision to shoot [at] us. He's the one who is going to jail."

It's not the first time Massad was arrested. In August 2018, Massad was arrested on a domestic battery charge.