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PLANTATION, FLA. (WSVN) - A Plantation gym owner, who was arrested last month after he was accused of failing to enforce the county’s face mask mandate, has been arrested a second time for allegedly refusing to enforce the executive order.
Michael Carnevale, 31, could be seen being escorted to a Plantation Police cruiser following his arrest at Fitness 1440, his gym, on Thursday.
“It’s love and gratitude. Love and gratitude will get us through,” he said.
In July, the 31-year-old was arrested for allegedly not enforcing the county ordinance requiring gym members to wear face masks while working out. His gym was also shut down for 24 hours.
Officials said Carnevale has had two warnings and had been cited twice.
Some gym members who were turned away said they were shocked at the arrest.
“It’s not right,” Anthony Nicholasi said. “I feel like it’s not constitutional. It’s not OK. You know what I mean? Like, all these new rules and regulations that just happened overnight. To take away somebody’s personal business, how the man eats, how he sleeps, how he takes care of his family. It’s kind of a little disturbing.”
“Because they want to destroy small businesses around here, obviously,” Katie Fife said. “They want to sit here and do their tyrannical ways, shut down everything they don’t agree with. They’re harassing him. That’s what I see. They’re harassing him.”
The 31-year-old’s gym will be shut down for 96 hours because it was his second offense.
He has since posted a $25 bond and was released overnight Friday.
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