In what could be a dramatic twist in the inquiry into what transpired at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, which saw 17 people murdered last year. The man whose job it ensures the safety of students has been arrested.
Surveillance tape revealed the school resource officer never came inside the building even as the bullets were pelted. Former Broward County Deputy Scot Peterson was guilty of 11 criminal charges. This also includes child neglect and negligence.
Peterson was arrested on Tuesday afternoon. This follows after a 15-month investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement
It alleges Peterson was “derelict in his duty” and “failed to act consistently with his training and fled to a position of personal safety while Cruz shot and killed students and staff.”
The report also notes Peterson was “in a position to take in Cruz and prevent any further harm to others, and he willfully chose not to do so.”
The report also reveals that Peterson found out where the gunshots were shot from but didn’t check the source of them. Moments later, Peterson is seen fleeing and then makes a stop to radio dispatch again. “Please ensure we get a few units over here, I need to shut down Stoneman Douglas,” he said.
Peterson stayed over from building 12, which is clear of the view, just to the left of the pavement. He guided officers to lock the school down and stop the immediate traffic.
The report clearly states that Peterson asked his deputies to get away from the building and did not follow the law enforcement response method that calls for eliminating the immediate danger.
Lori Alhadeff’s 14-year-old daughter, Alyssa Alhadeff, was murdered in the shooting. “With him being take in today, that gives accountability to me and every other affected family,” she told CBS News.
