PORT RICHEY, Fla. — A number of Port Richey residents and city leaders who attended a city council meeting Tuesday spoke in defense of former mayor Dale Massad, whose arrest last week resulted in his suspension by Gov. Ron DeSantis and eventual resignation last week.

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The meeting Tuesday was the first city council meeting held since Massad was arrested for reportedly shooting at deputies serving a search warrant at his home.

During the meeting, community residents reacted to the arrest, as did other city leaders. Most of the residents who spoke defended the former mayor. 

“I wish for him a decent outcome to this mess that he got himself,” said one resident. 

Another resident spoke out in support of Massad’s character, too. Several others said they felt sorry for the former mayor.

“It’s very sad what the city has gone through and it's very sad what Dale Massad has gone through,” said another resident.

Vice Mayor calls warrant serving "heavy-handed"

The City’s Vice Mayor, Terrence Rowe, who is now serving as the city’s Acting Mayor, shared a similar reaction, and talked about the former mayor’s character.

“He put his heart and soul into moving this city forward to get the dredging done and so many other things," Rowe said. "It is unfortunate, it’s tragic and I will miss his counsel."

Rowe also gave his opinion about the way the search warrant was served at Massad’s home last week.  

“In my opinion the operation was, to say the very least, heavy-handed and put police officers and our citizens in unnecessary danger.” Rowe said.

"I lost all respect for him"

Massad is charged with several counts of practicing medicine without a license and five counts of attempted murder for reportedly firing his weapon at the Pasco County SWAT team. 

Reports show he later told investigators he thought he was shooting at Port Richey Police, not the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. 

Residents and city leaders at Tuesday's meeting did not mention the shots Massad allegedly fired at law enforcement. But it’s something Port Richey Police Chief, Gerard Decanio, said is unacceptable for anyone, especially a mayor.

“I lost all respect for him, thinking he was firing shots because it was us coming through the door,” Decanio said.

The chief said the Port Richey Police department tipped off the Florida Department of Law Enforcement about Massad allegedly practicing medicine without a license. 

Massad remains behind bars with no bond. 

Leaders plan to hold a meeting on March 12 to talk about filing the vice mayor’s former seat. They said there will be a special meeting in the coming months for a new mayor.