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BROWARD COUNTY, FL – According to reports, the Broward County Schools’ superintendent and the school district’s chief lawyer were arrested on April 21st, with the Superintendent having been charged with perjury in an official proceeding and the school district attorney charged with unlawful disclosure of statewide grand jury proceedings.
Authorities took 59-year-old Superintendent Robert Runcie and 72-year-old school district General Counsel Barbara Myrick into custody on April 21st, with both of the individuals facing third degree felonies that are allegedly connected to official proceedings regarding the Parkland massacre from 2018.
I’m asking everyone who follows me to share this story.
Three years ago a monster killed 17 people at my High School.
Local officials’ corruption allowed it to happen.
Broward Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie arrested on a perjury charge. Justice.
https://t.co/gRktUPCnRX— Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) April 21, 2021
Back in 2019, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had impaneled a grand jury in response to the February 14th, 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School where 17 people were killed, and 17 others were wounded by a teenage gunman.
The initial purpose of this grand jury was an effort to review school safety in the wake of the tragic shooting, but over time the scope of the grand jury’s focus began to expand and included digging into areas of possible corruption and mismanagement within school district operations.
Law enforcement officials allege that Runcie had committed an act of perjury when delivering testimony to the grand jury on March 31st and April 1st of 2021. As for Myrick, authorities allege that she was improperly sharing grand jury information sometime between March 31st and April 14th of 2021.
While the indictments for the two individuals showcase the charges they are facing, the precise allegations regarding the suspected felonies committed during these proceedings are unclear due to these grand jury proceedings being held in secrecy.
Corrupt Broward Schools Chief, Democrat Robert Runcie whose policies caused the Stoneman Douglas massacre, and his agency attorney Democrat Barbara Myrick were both criminally charged yesterday for grand jury issues (perjury, illegal disclosures).
They should rot in prison.
— John Cardillo (@johncardillo) April 22, 2021
As of this writing, even attorneys for the accused don’t exactly know the specifics around the alleged crimes committed by the two.
Runcie’s attorney, Michael Dutko, claims his client doesn’t know what investigators believe he “lied about,” adding that all they have as of this time is the charges levied.
Myrick’s attorney, J. David Bogenschutz, says they haven’t even seen the physical indictment yet for Myrick:
“I’m actually very surprised that any indictment or any information is out there that the lawyers representing them don’t even know what it’s about. I can’t tell you what the [indictment] says or comment on what it means at this point.”
The Florida Attorney General’s Office did release news of the indictments but noted that they will not be providing any further information as of this time.
Runcie and Myrick are not the first school district employees arrested and charged in connection with these grand jury proceedings.
Back in January of this year, former chief information officer Tony Hunter was charged with bid rigging and bribery. Prosecutors note that in Hunter’s case, he had allegedly directed a $17 million contract to a vendor reportedly operated by a personal friend.
Hunter had entered a plea of not guilty regarding the January arrest and charge.
Former Broward technology chief arrested in grand jury probe – South Florida Sun-Sentinel https://t.co/oY7296W6dK
— RED BROWARD (@RedBroward) January 13, 2021
Following the arrests of both Runcie and Myrick, School Board Chairwoman Rosalind Osgood issued a statement noting that the school district would “operate as normal under the district’s leadership team,” while this matter is ongoing.
Osgood’s statement further noted that the school board “will provide transparency, accountability and integrity as we continue to focus on delivering the highest quality educational experience for our students, teachers and staff.”
Lisa Maxwell, from the Broward Principals and Assistants Association, also noted that the arrests of these two individuals are in no way going to adversely affect school operations, due to the fact that they are district employees and not school specific employees:
“The district provides support, but the principals manage the schools and will continue to do so.”
Runcie’s legal representation, despite knowing little about the specific allegations lodged against their client, released a statement in response to his arrest and charges that proclaimed this is some sort of politically motivated stunt:
“It is a sad day in Broward County and across Florida when politics become more important than the interests of our students.”
