US

Former Broward County Deputy Scot Peterson Arrested

[Twitter/Kyle Kashuv]

Mike Brest Reporter
Font Size:

Former Broward County Sheriff’s Deputy Scot Peterson was arrested on Tuesday following a 15-month investigation into his actions during the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.

Peterson is facing seven counts of neglect of a child, one count of perjury and three counts of culpable negligence.

“The FDLE investigation shows former Deputy Peterson did absolutely nothing to mitigate the MSD shooting that killed 17 children, teachers and staff and injured 17 others,” Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Rick Swearingen told WCTV. “There can be no excuse for his complete inaction and no question that his inaction cost lives.”

On February 14, 2018, seventeen people were gunned down at the high school despite Peterson being on campus at the time of the shooting. There is video that shows him waiting outside the building instead of trying to confront the shooter. (RELATED: Parkland Student To Deputy Peterson: ‘You’re Despicable’)
PARKLAND, FL - FEBRUARY 15: Broward County Sheriff, Scott Israel (C), Florida Governor Rick Scott,(R),and Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi,(L), speak to the media about the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School where 17 people were killed yesterday, on February 15, 2018 in Parkland, Florida. Police arrested the suspect after a short manhunt, and have identified him as 19 year old former student Nikolas Cruz. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

PARKLAND, FL – FEBRUARY 15: Broward County Sheriff, Scott Israel (C), Florida Governor Rick Scott,(R),and Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi,(L), speak to the media about the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Mark Wilson/Getty Images

“I was pleased the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in conjunction with the State Attorney’s Office conducted a thorough investigation that yielded the arrest of Scot Peterson. All the facts related to Mr. Peterson’s failure to act during the MSD massacre clearly warranted both termination of employment and criminal charges. It’s never too late for accountability and justice,” Sheriff Gregory Tony said to WCTV.

Follow Mike on Twitter