‘Cowardly’ ex-school cop Scot Peterson faces 97 years in jail for doing ‘absolutely nothing’ to stop Parkland shooting
- Security officer faces 11 criminal charges, including child neglect, culpable negligence and perjury
- Investigation shows Peterson refused to investigate and instead retreated as 17 students and staff were gunned down at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
Scot Peterson, the school security officer branded a coward for his inaction during the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, has been arrested for neglect of duty, Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony announced on Tuesday.
Peterson, 56, had been nationally heckled and vilified for failing to confront the former student who gunned down and killed 17 students and staff at the Parkland school on February 14, 2018.
“It’s never too late for accountability and justice,” Tony said.
Peterson has been booked into the Broward Main Jail on 11 criminal charges, including child neglect, culpable negligence and perjury.
His arrest comes after a 15-month investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Broward state attorney’s office.
The investigation showed Peterson refused to investigate where the gunshots were coming from, retreated during the gunfire as victims were being shot, and directed other law enforcement who arrived on scene to remain 500 feet (150 metres) away from the building, FDLE spokeswoman Jessica Cary said in an emailed statement.
