EUSTIS, Florida—A former corrections officer is facing charges of aggravated assault and impersonating a law enforcement officer after allegedly threatening to “blow an armored guard’s head off” at a medical marijuana facility Friday afternoon.
Eustis Police Department responded to Liberty Health Science Medical Marijuana Dispensary, 15443 U.S. Highway 441 after Michael Craig Shapiro, a former corrections officer for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, reported that an armed subject had entered the dispensary and was possibly a security guard.
EPD arrived and found Shapiro, 39, of Mount Dora, in a silver vehicle blocking a white van; officers spoke to the van’s driver, who was wearing a black security uniform and had his hands up. Inside Lake is not naming the security guard because he is a victim of a crime.
The guard told police he arrived at the dispensary to pick up a deposit, walked in and proceeded toward the counter. Shapiro, who was standing in the lobby, reportedly said he was an ex-cop and if the guard touched his gun, he would, “blow his head off.” The guard ignored Shapiro and went into the back to retrieve the deposit, according to the arrest affidavit. When police spoke with an employee of the dispensary, she said when the guard entered, Shapiro was asked to wait a few minutes for his marijuana order so they could take care of the deposit. Shapiro looked at the guard and said,” Oh you stop me for this big wig guy,” the employee told police. Shapiro then reportedly said, “If you grab your gun, I will shoot you first because I’m a retired cop.”
The employee finished helping another customer and went to help Shapiro, who allegedly said, “I am a regular customer, how dare they stop my sale for this guy? Who is he? He can wait.” The employee explained why he had to wait and apologized, and Shapiro left the dispensary. The guard exited the dispensary and attempted to leave when he noticed Shapiro blocking him in with his silver car.
Shapiro then got out of his car and pointed a small black handgun and the guard and told him to get out or he would blow his head off, he told officers. The guard then called police.
Shapiro, who was found with a gun and badge, told EPD he believed the guard was robbing the business and he had the tag number “run” and it came back to a rental agency. However, when police “ran” the tag it came back to the company the guard said he worked for. He went on to say he was a retired deputy from Orange County Sheriff’s Office and was overheard telling the guard he disobeyed a lawful command because he had his badge out. EPD investigated and found that Shapiro had been a corrections officer for OCSO, not a deputy, and he was fired, although it is unclear what he was fired for, EPD Capt. Jon Fahning said.
The dispensary is located in a very busy shopping plaza that also houses Starbucks, Verizon and Planet Smoothie. A customer who had exited Starbucks came running back in during the incident and said two men were arguing outside and one was waving a gun stating he was going to blow the other’s guy’s head off, a Starbucks patron who wished to remain anonymous told Inside Lake.
“Everyone in the shop got up and the manager locked the door. Everyone hid towards the back of Starbucks,” the patron said; customers and employees were nervous and scared, but the employees did a great job keeping everyone as comfortable as possible. The patrons were locked inside for approximately 30 minutes, she told Inside Lake. Shapiro was taken into custody and arrested for aggravated assault on a security officer and impersonating a police officer. He is being held in the Lake County Jail on $7,000 bond.
