NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — A Columbia Police officer has been charged after his four-year-old son accidentally shot himself at a Florida home on Wednesday.
According to an arrest report from the North Miami Beach Police Department, officers responded to a home in reference to a shooting and spoke to 29-year-old Peter Rodler Tidot of Columbia. The report states that Tidot spoke with officers and said his child shot himself. Authorities found the child inside a home with a gunshot wound to his head and a gun nearby.
The report said the child was taken to an area hospital for treatment.
Police took Tidot to the station and interviewed him. The report states Tidot told officers he had arrived at a family member's home and had his .45 caliber handgun in his waistband loaded with a round in the chamber. During the interview, police said he said the gun was left loaded, unsecured, and unholstered within reach of his son, who managed to gain access to it and wound himself.
Police charged Tidot with felony child neglect - great bodily harm and culpable negligence - firearm within easy access of a minor.
Columbia Police announced the arrest on Friday, confirming that Tidot is an officer with the department. Police said he was placed on "investigatory suspension" following the arrest. The suspension will remain in effect until the disposition of criminal charges in Florida and an administrative investigation by the Columbia Police Department Internal Affairs Unit.
"We are praying for the speedy recovery of the child and everyone impacted by the incredibly unfortunate incident," Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook said in a statement. "Let this serve as a reminder about the importance of gun safety and proper gun storage."
The department confirmed that the gun in question is Tidot's duty weapon and that he has been with the department since April 2023.
All officers are allowed to carry their service weapon off-duty as long as they have the required identification.
Columbia Police Department policy states, “Police officers are responsible for the safe and proper storage of all department-issued firearms and approved backup/off-duty weapons as well as less-than-lethal weapons issued by the department. Police officers should use a secure storage method to ensure that weapons are not accessible to unauthorized users.”
Tidot appeared in bond court this Thursday, and his bond was set at $10,000 combined for both charges: $7,500 for the child neglect charge and $2,500 for culpable negligence. Tidot is no longer allowed to carry a gun and must have supervised contact with his son moving forward.
Columbia Police said the department would continue to work with North Miami Beach Police regarding the case.