PARKLAND, Fla. — Scot Peterson, the school security officer branded a coward for his inaction during the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, has been arrested for neglect of duty, Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony announced Tuesday.

Peterson, 56, had been vilified for failing to confront the former student who gunned down and killed 17 students and staff at the Parkland school Feb. 14, 2018.

The criminal charges, all but the perjury count, stem from the killings and injuries that happened on the third floor of the freshman building.

While there was little time for anyone to intervene before 11 were killed on the first floor at the high school, the fate of the people on the third floor has been in question.

A Sun Sentinel review of reports, timelines, audio and video recordings showed how a number of circumstances influenced the outcome that day.

Every second counted.

If Peterson had charged into the building and bounded up three flights of stairs within a minute, he might have headed off the shooter and cut short his deadly rampage.

“He should rot, that’s how I feel,” said Fred Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter Jaime was killed in the massacre. “My daughter was one of the last to be shot. My daughter absolutely could have been saved by him and she wasn’t. ... I’m pleased an effort is being made for justice here.”

Jaime Guttenberg was shot once in the spinal cord as she fled for her life.

“Had she had one more second she would have been saved,” Guttenberg said. “She was turning into the stairwell.

“I hope they make his life as miserable as possible,” Guttenberg said.

Also on the third floor was geography teacher and cross-country coach Scott Beigel.

“If Scot Peterson had done his job my son would be alive today,” said Linda Schulman. “One hundred percent had he done something the active shooter would not have made it to the third floor, had he done his job, instead of standing outside like a coward. Had he done his job we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

Peterson has been booked into the Broward Main Jail on 11 criminal charges, including child neglect, culpable negligence and perjury. He also was fired.

Peterson’s arrest comes after a 15-month investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Broward state attorney’s office.

“It’s never too late for accountability and justice,” Tony, the sheriff, said.

The investigation showed Peterson refused to investigate where the gunshots were coming from, retreated during the gunfire as victims were being shot, and directed other law enforcement who arrived on scene to remain 500 feet away from the building, FDLE spokeswoman Jessica Cary said in an emailed statement.

“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,” said FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen. “There can be no excuse for his complete inaction and no question that his inaction cost lives.”

Another deputy, former Sgt. Brian Miller, was also fired, although he faces no criminal charges for his actions that day.

Peterson was arrested Tuesday afternoon after an administrative discipline hearing at the sheriff’s office headquarters on Broward Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale.

If convicted as charged, Peterson could face a maximum of nearly 97 years in state prison. His bond was set at $102,000.

Peterson is facing seven felony counts of child neglect, three misdemeanor counts of culpable negligence and one misdemeanor count of perjury, according to the Broward state attorney’s office.

Sun Sentinel staff writers Megan O’Matz, Rafael Olmeda, Lisa Huriash and The Associated Press contributed.