Confessed Parkland shooter faces new charges after jailer attacked

Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Nikolas Cruz, the confessed shooter at a high school in Parkland, Fla., faced additional charges Tuesday on allegations he punched and tackled a jail deputy last month.

Cruz appeared before Judge Elizabeth Scherer in court in Fort Lauderdale.

Two charges were modified stemming from the incident Nov. 13 in the jail in Fort Lauderdale. He now faces charges of attempted aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and attempted use of an electric or chemical weapon against a law enforcement officer. In addition, he was charged with depriving a law enforcement officer of protection.

Cruz, 20, has been in jail without bond since confessing to killing 17 people Feb. 14 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. If convicted, he faces the death penalty.

Broward County deputies said he attacked Broward Sheriff's Office Sgt. Raymond Beltran in the day room area, rushing at him, punching him in the face and taking his stun gun. Beltran, 41, subued Cruz and didn't suffer any serious injuries.

In a motion, defense attorneys wrote there had been "increasing discord" between Cruz and Beltran, and is seeking a "no contact" order.

During a Nov. 27 hearing, Scherer said continued interaction between Cruz and Beltran was "not a good idea," but she wasn't sure she had the authority to keep them away from each other.