The sheriff of Riverside County, Calif., the second largest sheriff's office in the Golden State, said he would not enforce the stay-at-home order issued by the government because he is not going to "make criminals out of law-abiding citizens that are trying to support a family."
"[Y]ou just can't arrest somebody for going out and exercising in public or not wearing a mask," Sheriff Chad Bianco told the Riverside Board of Supervisers on May 6.
“From the beginning, I told you that I would not be enforcing the stay-at-home order partly because I trusted our residents’ ability to do the right thing without the fear of being arrested," Biano told the Board.
"I refuse to make criminals out of business owners and single moms and otherwise healthy individuals for exercising their constitutional rights," he said.
Speaking with Fox News Channel on May 8 about the issue, Sheriff Bianco said, the pandemic "is nothing like they told us it was going to be in the beginning. It’s time to get back, opening up our businesses and letting our people do what their normal business activities are."
"And, you know, you just can't arrest somebody for going out and exercising in public or not wearing a mask," he said.
"At the same time they are trying to force me to release real criminals from jail," he added. "They want me to make criminals out of law-abiding citizens that are, you know, trying to support a family. It doesn't make sense anymore."
