Port Richey Acting Mayor Arrested

WUSF | By Mark Schreiner

Published March 14, 2019 at 1:00 AM EDT

Mug shot of Port Richey vice mayor Terance Rowe, who was arrested Wednesday on obstruction charges.

The vice mayor of Port Richey has been arrested on obstruction charges.

Terance Rowe had been serving as acting mayor since former mayor Dale Massad was suspended three weeks ago for his own legal issues.

Massad faces attempted murder charges for shooting at deputies who were attempting to arrest him Feb. 21 for practicing medicine without a license.

Massad was suspended by Gov. Ron DeSantis a day later.

A press release from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement says Rowe, 64, was arrested Wednesday after agents received information that he was conspiring to interfere with a criminal investigation.

FDLE officials confirmed early Thursday that Rowe was arrested in connection with Massad's case.

Rowe was taken to the Pasco County Jail on $15,000 bond. He faces charges of obstruction of justice, conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice and use of a two-way communication device to facilitate the commission of a crime.