The former deputy that was on the scene during the devastating shooting that took place last year at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School has been arrested on 11 charges.
According to CBS News, State Attorney Mike Satz said in an announcement that Scot Peterson, 56, faces child neglect, culpable negligence, and perjury charges. The charges against him come after a 14-month investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Scot was the deputy that was on duty while the shooting occurred at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, but he never went inside.
According to the prosecutor, the charges carry a combined prison sentence of nearly 100 years. At the moment, Scot’s bail has been set at $102,000. Once he’s released, he will have to wear a GPS monitor, surrender his passport, and be prohibited from possessing a firearm.
FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen said, “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. There can be no excuse for his complete inaction and no question that his inaction cost lives.”
Scot reportedly told investigators he heard two or three shots and didn’t know whether they were coming from inside or outside the building. However, that was quickly contradicted by radio calls in which he correctly identified the building as the shooter’s location.
Fred Guttenberg, the father of one of the victims killed in the shooting, took to social media and said, “I have no comment except to say rot in hell Scott Peterson. You could have saved my daughter. You did not and then you lied about it and you deserve the misery coming your way.”
I have no comment except to say rot in hell Scott Petersen. You could have saved some of the 17. You could have saved my daughter. You did not and then you lied about it and you deserve the misery coming your way.https://t.co/FIxpOHDEVA
— Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) June 4, 2019
Nikolas Cruz, 20, faces the death penalty if convicted of killing 17 people in the shooting and injuring many others.
