This is the second arrest for former Mayor Dale Massad. Acting Mayor Terence Rowe was accused of conspiring with Massad to obstruct justice.

PORT RICHEY – Last month, then-Port Richey Mayor Dale Massad was arrested and charged with practicing medicine without a license.

Now Massad has been arrested again and Acting Port Richey Mayor Terrence Rowe was arrested in connection with charges that he conspired with the former mayor to interfere with an active criminal investigation by targeting Pasco County Sheriff’s Deputy D. Howard.

Massad, 68, was charged with one count each of Conspiracy to Obstruct Justice and Use of a Two-Way Communication Device. He was already facing five counts of Attempted Premeditated Homicide for firing on Pasco deputies when they came to arrest him and of Practicing Medicine without a License. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is handling the medical-related accusation. (For related story, click here.)

Rowe, 64, of Port Richey, was charged with Obstruction of Justice, Conspiracy to Commit Obstruction of Justice, and Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate the Commission of a Crime. The FDLE is handling the case.

The latest charged against Massad and the accusations against Rowe arose from a March 3 telephone call the former mayor made to the acting mayor. The call, made from the Pasco County Detention Center, was recorded.

According to the arrest affidavit, the two had this conversation:

Massad: “I believe Howard was hired illegally, fired legally, and re-hired illegally. I don’t know why but he is in on everything.” The arrest affidavit said Massad was referring to his Feb. 21 arrest.

Rowe: “I’m on it.”

Massad: “Okay, so anything you can do is good.”

Rowe: “You know, this doesn’t go down without somebody answering for it.”

Photo shows Dale Glen Massad, left, and Terrence Rowe.

Pasco Sheriff | Crime | Arrests | Mayor Arrested | Port Richey Mayor | Tampabay News

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