A police officer, armed with a gun, froze in the line of duty during the 2018 school shooting at Marjory Stoneman High School in Parkland, Florida. The massacre killed 17 students and faculty. In the face of gunfire coming from inside the school, a school deputy, Scot Peterson, remained outside the school with a gun. He never went inside the school to protect and perhaps save lives. He was the only person initially on the school with a gun. Now Peterson is charged with 3 counts of culpable negligence, one count of perjury and 7 counts of neglect of a child. If convicted of all counts, he could land in prison for 96 years. According to video, it appears that Peterson took the coward’s way out. The real question is whether he can be legally found guilty of culpable negligence—a charge routinely reserved for parents, caregivers, day care providers and others similarly situated. Police are usually charged for acts that they did. While I am usually an outspoken critic of … [Read more...] about Is Parkland Officer’s Cowardice a Criminal Act?
charges
Why No Charges Filed In MD Firefighter Killed by Homeowner?
One Maryland firefighter was shot and killed and another one seriously injured after knocking on the resident's door responding to a check for the person’s welfare. No charges are filed at this time. And social media is weighing in on both sides of the argument –to file charges and those wondering why firefighters responded in the first instance and attempted to bust in the door. And as a former Maryland prosecutor, I wonder why no charges were filed by Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks. And charges might still be filed at a later time. On Friday, April 15, Prince Georges County firefighters responded to a home for a well person check, following a call by the brother of the resident-to check on his state of health. Firefighters respond as first responders in these types of cases which may need paramedic/medical assistance. Upon arriving at the home, presumably with the customary siren sound on and flashing lights on upon arrival, the firefighters … [Read more...] about Why No Charges Filed In MD Firefighter Killed by Homeowner?
Baltimore’s Best Kept Prosecution Secret on Freddie Gray Case
As Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby delivered a stunning and surprising press conference on May 1, announcing charges of the six police officers allegedly involved in Freddie Gray’s death, she held a secret close to her chest. Her office investigated the police officers and the death of Freddie Gray since the incident began. When she received the police investigation of the police on Thursday, April 30, she had already done her own due diligence. All that was left was the Medical Examiner’s report declaring Gray’s death a homicide. She received the autopsy report on May 1 stating that Mr. Gray’s death was a homicide. She had the best kept secret ever in terms of homicide investigations involving police. There were no leaks from her office, her investigators or the Baltimore City Sheriffs who assisted her office in the investigation. In the age of social media, where even leaks occurred to the media about the police investigation to the Washington Post and … [Read more...] about Baltimore’s Best Kept Prosecution Secret on Freddie Gray Case