North Miami Beach Deputy City Manager Arrested on Child Pornography Charges – NBC 6 South Florida

North Miami Beach's deputy city manager was arrested Wednesday on charges of possession of child pornography, police said.

David Eugene Scott, 63, faces 15 counts of sexual conduct with a child/possession of a child, Miami police said.

“Our Special Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit conducted an investigation that resulted in the arrest of an individual who happens to sit at the highest level of a local city government,” said Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales. “This is highly disappointing, especially given their trust role and the fact that the victims are children – one of our most vulnerable populations. We are proud of our partnership with the Prosecutor’s Office Cyber ​​Crime Unit in solving this case.”

Investigators said Scott uploaded 31 images and videos containing child abuse material and attempted to purchase 6,000 videos and images of children online through various social media platforms.

Detectives from multiple agencies executed a search warrant at Scott's home and seized his electronic devices.

Investigators found several files containing child pornography on Scott's cell phone, police said.

Scott started in the city's public works department in July 2022 and was promoted to deputy city manager a year later. North Miami Beach confirmed that City Manager Mario Diaz terminated Scott's employment following the arrest.

“I am shocked and disappointed to learn that a high-ranking government official will be charged with possession of child pornography,” prosecutor Katherine Fernandez Rundle said in a statement. “As a prosecutor, I know that our law enforcement and my prosecutors are committed to ensuring that no child suffers the denigration, exploitation and abuse that is at the heart of every child pornography arrest. Child pornography is always a crime that involves exploiting the innocence of our children.”