Parkland, Florida, shooting victim’s father cleared to see deputy’s child neglect trial

Published 3:15 pm Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Andrew Scot Pollack, who is facing several felony charges in Jackson County alleging he stalked and threatened his neighbors, was approved by the court to travel to Florida so he can attend the trial of a former Broward County deputy who allegedly failed to do everything he could to stop convicted murderer Nikolas Cruz from gunning down 17 people, including Pollack’s daughter, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14, 2018 in Parkland, Florida.

Pollack, of Eagle Point, was slated to depart the Rogue Valley Tuesday to attend “a trial for someone else,” and return June 16, according to a travel permit signed Monday by an anonymous Jackson County Circuit Court clerk.

Pollack confirmed in an interview that he was cleared for travel, but he did not leave Jackson County Tuesday because he is waiting to see whether Keith and Meagan Mapes’ permanent protection order against him will go into effect. The Mapes were named in the criminal indictment against Pollack. Pollack and the Mapes sued each other over an Eagle Point property dispute, which Pollack won.

The defendant in the trial Pollack would like to attend is former Broward County Sheriff’s Deputy Scot Peterson, Pollack confirmed.

“I don’t think you could put a number on how upset I am,” Pollack said. “The guy took an oath to protect those children and he hid for 45 minutes behind the wall.”

Peterson faces numerous child neglect and culpable negligence charges for his response to the Parkland massacre, where 18-year-old Meadow Jade Pollack was killed.

Stationed at the high school Feb. 14, 2018, Peterson was at the administration building, a few buildings away from building No. 1200, where Cruz was firing. After a radio report, Peterson went to the building, called for help and drew his weapon, but never went inside. Peterson later resigned from his position.

Prosecutors argue that had Peterson done so, he could have saved lives. But his defense attorney argues that the former deputy thought shots were coming from outside — and other officials did, too.

Peterson told The Associated Press he wants “the truth to come out” and he is “eager” to face trial. The former deputy’s trial could last all summer.

Pollack is accused of four counts of coercion, four counts of stalking, four counts of second-degree disorderly conduct and three counts of menacing for his alleged repeated contact with the Mapes between late 2022 and early 2023.

Pollack is slated to go on trial Sept. 5-8. Pollack is not due back in court until the expected start of the trial, according to information provided on his travel permit.

Asked about his desire to travel to watch a criminal trial when he could face one himself, Pollack responded in an email: “I think it’s repulsive that you would compare a case where Parents children were murdered to a case of false acquisitions (sic) from a crazy nieghbor! (sic).”

The Mapes have declined comment, pending the outcome of the case. Pollack has said through his Florida-based attorney that the charges are frivolous and the Parkland father is confident he will be acquitted.