PORT CHARLOTTE — About 20 people were charged with breaking curfew in Charlotte County between Thursday and Sunday, according to arrest records.
One person, a Cape Coral man, was taken into custody but allegedly claimed immunity from state law as a “sovereign citizen.”
Michael Gary Murad, 33, was arrested at 4:49 a.m. Thursday along Tamiami Trail in Port Charlotte.
The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office announced a curfew the day before, ahead of Hurricane Milton, limiting movement from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. without need.
According to his arrest report, Murad was riding his bicycle in the wrong direction in the Tamiami Trail northbound bike lane. Deputies attempted a traffic stop, but he avoided it and rode into the road.
He was eventually detained.
The arrest report noted a curfew enacted by Gov. Ron DeSantis for areas in the path of Hurricane Milton.
Deputies searched him, allegedly leading to the discovery of two handguns and ammunition.
“(Murad) did not have an answer to where he was going or what his intentions were,” the report read. (He) made it known that he is a sovereign citizen and that he does not need to abide by Florida law.”