Former police officer Scott Langton has been fired by the City of Ferndale, citing an “inability to carry out his duties.” Langton was arrested in his Blaine home July 26 and charged with second-degree attempted child molestation.
Langton, 46, allegedly texted and verbalized his intentions to sexually pursue a child between the ages of 12–14, according to court documents.
On July 10, Langton responded to a report of a collision in the parking lot of an apartment complex in Blaine, court records indicate. When Langton went to speak to the witness, her child, the victim, answered the door. Langton communicated via text with the mother of the child — who took screenshots of the conversation — and allegedly propositioned the mother and child for sexual acts, police said.
Ferndale Communications Officer Riley Sweeney said in an email Tuesday the city and police department cannot provide further comments or information until the investigation is fully resolved.
Langton was previously placed on administrative leave by the City of Ferndale in October 2021 after the city received information Langton had contacted the Oath Keepers, a far-right extremist group, Cascadia Daily News previously reported.
Langton was also involved in a civil lawsuit alleging racist behavior in February 2020, according to court documents.
He was released from Skagit County Jail on July 28 after posting a $40,000 bail. Langton’s jury trial is currently scheduled to begin Oct. 24.
