Port Richey,FL—The mayor of Port Richey, FL, Dale Massad, fires two gunshots at SWAT officers.

Port Richey,FL—The mayor of Port Richey, FL, Dale Massad, fires two gunshots at SWAT officers who were at his house attempting to serve a warrant.

​Dale Massad, who was elected mayor in 2015, was arrested by the officers from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and accused of practicing medicine without a license. He now also faces two charges of attempted murder.

Pasco County Sheriff, Chris Nocco, said no one was injured while at Massad’s home.

According to the affidavit, SWAT members knocked several times and used a ram to open the door, however were unsuccessful. Another officer tried shooting the locks off with a shotgun.

After making entry, a SWAT member set off a flash bang grenade inside the doorway. They then heard two gunshots and retreated behind an armored vehicle.

The officers ordered Massad to drop his weapon.

"If somebody is firing at us we have every means and every right to fire back at them," the sheriff said. "They did what they thought was appropriate at the time.

"He's lucky he's not dead."

According to the affidavit, SWAT members knocked several times and used a ram to open the door, however were unsuccessful. Another officer tried shooting the locks off with a shotgun.


After making entry, a SWAT member set off a flash bang grenade inside the doorway. They then heard two gunshots and retreated behind an armored vehicle.


The officers ordered Massad to drop his weapon.


"If somebody is firing at us we have every means and every right to fire back at them," the sheriff said. "They did what they thought was appropriate at the time.


"He's lucky he's not dead."