Former Broward County Sheriff’s Deputy Scot Peterson was arrested today and now faces 11 charges related to his inaction during the 2018 Parkland shooting.
Peterson, 56, is charged with seven counts of child neglect, three counts of culpable negligence and one count of perjury after a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation, FDLE officials announced.
“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,” FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen said in a statement.
Peterson was the sole school resource officer at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School during the shooting. He became infamous for retreating and hiding as shots rang out as the massacre developed.
The former deputy directed responding law enforcement to remain 500 feet away from the school building in Parkland while the shooting unfolded.
Peterson was arrested at the Broward County Sheriff’s Office and booked into the Broward County jail.
