North Miami Beach's deputy city manager is charged with possessing child sexual abuse videos

MIAMI – David Eugene Scott, the assistant city manager for the city of North Miami Beach, faces multiple charges for possessing child sexual abuse videos, Miami police said Wednesday.

Scott, 63, was arrested on 15 counts of sexual conduct with a child/possession. According to the arrest report, images of boys ages 2 to 10 were found on his cell phone.

City Manager Mario Diaz terminated Scott's employment “after receiving and reviewing the arrest report from the Miami Police Department,” according to city spokesman Evan Ross.

“While the city has not been asked for assistance or information, we will cooperate fully with North Miami Beach and expedite all requests to North Miami Beach.”

Scott was appointed to the position last year after serving as the city's public works director.

He has also served in leadership positions including Economic Development/Strategy for the City of Boynton Beach, Assistant City Manager for the City of Delray Beach, Assistant County Administrator for Pinellas County, Public Works Commissioner for Atlanta, and Deputy Mayor for Operations and Director of Public Works for Baltimore .

“David is a visionary leader with over three decades of experience in the public sector and a proven track record of implementing innovative strategies and improving organizational processes. “He leads a diverse portfolio of municipal operations with 7,000 employees and a budget of $800 million,” the city wrote on LinkedIn last year.

The Special Victims Unit arrested Scott through its Internet Crimes Against Children Unit.

After an investigation, Miami investigators identified Scott as a suspect who uploaded 31 images and videos containing child sexual abuse material and attempted to purchase an additional 6,000 videos and images of children online through various social media platforms, police said.

ICAC investigators, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and local police departments from Miami Beach, Aventura and Miami Gardens, as well as the Attorney General's Cyber ​​Crimes Unit, executed a search warrant at his Miami apartment.

Several electronic devices were confiscated, including his cell phone. Several files containing videos were found on the phone.

Scott was arrested, interviewed by investigators, arrested and transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

“Our Special Internet Crimes Against Children 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 Police Chief Manuel A. Morales. “This is extremely disappointing, particularly given the role they play as confidants 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.”

Prosecutor Katherine Fernandez Rundle said: “I am shocked and disappointed to learn that a high-ranking government official will be charged with possession of child pornography. As a prosecutor, I know that our law enforcement agencies and my prosecutors are committed to ensuring that this is not the case.” “Child suffers the vilification, exploitation and abuse that are at the heart of every child pornography arrest. Child pornography is always a crime that involves exploiting the innocence of our children.”