South Florida

Officer Who Arrested Stoneman Shooting Suspect Honored

A board of county commissioners is honoring the Coconut Creek police officer credited with taking a suspected school shooter into custody about an hour after 17 people were gunned down at a nearby high school.

The Broward County Commission declared Tuesday as Officer Michael Leonard and Coconut Creek Police Department Appreciation Day.

Leonard and police Chief Albert "Butch" Arenal received the honor during a commission meeting. Leonard told commissioners it wasn't about him. "It's about my brothers and sisters in law enforcement, fire rescue, first responders. We all had a role that day."

He told news outlets he spotted 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz walking in a neighborhood some 2 miles from the school. He recognized the suspect from police radio traffic and said Cruz offered no resistance when stopped.

"I knew that I was coming upon someone that could possibly be armed," Leonard said. "I knew that there was individuals that had passed away already at this killer's hands...I remained focused."

Leonard said he hopes what he did will help bring healing to hurting families in South Florida.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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