Florida gym owner arrested for not enforcing mask order

PLANTATION, Fla. — A South Florida gym owner was arrested after defying a county mask order.

Michael Carnevale was allowing members at his 24-hour gym Fitness 1440 to elect whether or not they wore a mask while working out against a county order requiring them, WPLG reported.

He refused to close after deputies told him to do so.

“If this whole thing is really about health, this is where we are getting into some murky waters here because I don’t see how I can make my patrons wear a mask while on a treadmill, or while they are exercising,” Carnevale told WPLG. “I don’t have it in me to close the facility because my intuition is just telling me this is wrong.”

Carnevale was part of a group of protesters at an anti-mask demonstration last week, WPLG reported. He has also filed a lawsuit against the county over its mask order.

Carnevale said the order is intrusive. He said he was concerned about the health of his members who might faint or get dizzy working out wearing a mask.

Investigators had received 311 complaints about the gym.

Carnevale was released from jail Tuesday morning, WPLG reported.

“Right now, I’m trusting that everything’s happening for a reason,” Carnevale said. “I was there for maybe six or seven hours. My wife posted bond for me.”

The gym was closed Tuesday.

“I don’t think it’s fair,” gym member Alyssa Ramirez told WPLG. “They kept it clean. Everyone was social distancing.”

Ramirez said it's difficult to workout wearing a mask.

“I know I’ll pass out. I can’t workout with a mask on,” Ramirez said. “You’re sweating, you’re breathing hard. How am I supposed to breathe through the mask?”

Because the gym was closed, Ramirez planned to go for a run in a park.

“That’s all I can do,” she said.

Cox Media Group