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East Like Fire Commissioner James Dalrymple was arrested in downtown Key West on Wednesday and charged with obstruction of justice after an incident that unfolded after he refused to wear a mask as required by city ordinance.
According to a Key West Police report, officer Leonardo Hernandez saw a group walking south on Duval Street around 6:40 p.m. A few in the group were not wearing masks.
After the officer asked them to put on masks, which the city requires while outside of residences, Dalrymple, 64, responded that “the governor’s order says we do not have to,” according to the incident report.
On Sept. 25, Gov. Ron DeSantis lifted coronavirus-related restrictions on business capacity and operations, but his order did not repeal local mandates that require masks in indoor public places.
The reopening order did, however, take away municipalities’ ability to impose fines on individuals who violate the restrictions.