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Coronavirus: Florida gym owner arrested third time for defying county mask order

PLANTATION, Fla. — A South Florida gym owner was arrested for the third time Friday for defying a county mask order.

Michael Carnevale, 31, was taken into custody outside of his gym, Fitness 1440, hours after being released from jail, WPLG reported. His wife, a co-owner of the gym was also arrested.

Carnevale, who was first arrested in July for defying a Broward County mask order, was arrested a second time Thursday for defying the order, WPLG reported.

“The more we seem to comply with these mandates, the more bizarre, the more intrusive these mandates seem to have gotten,” Carnevale told WPLG.

When the gym was ordered to close, staff moved equipment into the parking lot.

“It kills me to be closed for our membership base, and this is just something we can do for them,” Carnevale told WSVN. “We know cases are up, we understand that, but at the same time, exercise, nutrition, hydration — these are things that aren’t really being discussed.”

Members were seen using the equipment Friday, WSVN reported. Police told them they could not use it because the gym was shut down, WPLG reported. Staff then moved the equipment back into the gym.

“It’s very strange,” gym member Nicholas Zarrillo told WSVN. “It should be a person’s decision, but at the same time, you gotta wear the masks, you know. You gotta use the hand sanitizers. It’s not much of a hassle to do it.”

Carnevale is suing the county over the mask order.