‘Coward of Broward’ sheriff’s deputy arrested for inaction during Parkland mass shooting – Washington Examiner

The former school resource officer widely branded as a coward for failing to intervene during the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting has been arrested for failing to act during the massacre.

Scot Peterson, 56, was arrested Tuesday and charged with seven counts of neglect of a child, three counts of culpable negligence, and one count of perjury, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Rick Swearingen said Peterson did “absolutely nothing” to stop the shooting, which killed 17 and injured 17 others.

“There can be no excuse for his complete inaction and no question that his inaction cost lives,” Swearingen added.

Peterson has been nicknamed the “ Coward of Broward” after news emerged that he allegedly heard where the gunshots were coming from and ran to safety instead of confronting the gunman. He has claimed he did nothing wrong and has defended his actions that day.

Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida released a statement saying that he had previously called on the FDLE to investigate “the failures in Broward County.”

“Now it’s time for justice to be served. Had this individual done his job, lives would have been saved,” Scott said. “Actions (or inaction) have consequences. We need more accountability, and that includes at the FBI, which has yet to show me a single example of how they’ve improved their processes following the failures in the lead-up to the Parkland shooting.”

Peterson will be booked into the Broward County Jail where his bond is set at $102,000. Under the terms of his bond he will also be required to wear a GPS monitor and must surrender his passport.