Why sheriff’s deputies showed up at a Florida State Guard training to arrest a recruit
A Florida State Guard recruit was arrested by sheriff’s deputies during training on Monday in the latest controversy for Gov. Ron DeSantis’ fledgling force.
Michael Lipari, 52, was arrested by Clay County sheriff’s deputies on a warrant issued in Lee County. He is accused of uttering a forged instrument, according to his arrest report.
The charge, which involves using a forged document with intent to defraud, is a third-degree felony carrying a penalty of up to five years in prison.
The arrest warrant has not been made public.
In their report, Clay County deputies said they were called to Camp Blanding, the Florida National Guard base about an hour southwest of Jacksonville, about an outstanding warrant. When a deputy arrived, a military police officer said Lipari was the subject of an arrest warrant.
Lipari’s arrest is just the latest incident to draw negative attention to the State Guard, a World War II-era organization that DeSantis revived to help during in-state emergencies. Since it was brought back in 2022, it has experienced high turnover, and some military veterans who initially signed up later quit over its militia-like training.
Lipari is a U.S. Army veteran and former
Florida Highway Patrol trooper who lost his job after a viral video appeared to show him in a patrol car racing a Lamborghini on Alligator Alley in 2018, NBC2 News reported at the time.
In January, he was charged with misdemeanor criminal mischief in
Lee County after he was accused of slamming his hand into a woman’s vehicle during a domestic dispute, court records show. Prosecutors dropped the charge.
Lipari did not respond to requests for comment.
When asked for comment, Florida State Guard spokesperson Sierra Dean did not address Lipari or the arrest.
“[The Florida State Guard] performs vetting procedures on all recruits in accordance with Florida law, including background checks,” Dean said in a statement. “The State Guard will follow procedures in place for addressing concerns with an individual’s prior behavior and take action when necessary.”
The Florida State Guard has been holding its training this month at Camp Blanding, the second such class since 2022.
The organization has