Port Richey Mayor Faces Insurance Investigation after Cop Shootout

Port Richey, Fla. (NewsRadio WFLA)- NEW INFORMATION 5:00 PM 2/21/19:

The state Chief Financial Officer says he's sending insurance fraud detectives to look into Port Richey Mayor Dale Massad, who's jailed without bond after Pasco deputies say he shot at them as they served a search warrant on charges of practicing medicine without a license.

Jimmy Patronis says he wants to find out whether Massad, 68, profited from insurance policies. He's asking anyone with information about Massad to come forward by using his anonymous Fraud Tip Hotline, 1-800-378-0445.

Massad is jailed with no bond due to the charges involving law enforcement officers.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Pasco Deputies have a man in custody who fired shots at several officers as they were serving a search warrant along with officers from the the Florida Department Of Law Enforcement. Deputies did not return fire.

Just before 5 Thursday morning, deputies arrived at the home in the 8000 block of Hayward Lane in Port Richey. The home is owned by Port Richey Mayor Dale Massad.

According to the FDLE, Mayor Massad whose medical license was relinquished in 1992, was still practicing medicine. FDLE Agents learned that Massad had patients come to his home for various treatments and he was performing medical procedures at the residence. According to the FDLE, one procedure required additional hospital treatment for the patient.

No one was injured, Massad was taken into custody.

Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution will handle the case.


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