Scottie Scheffler incident: Louisville police release findings of investigation into officer

Louisville officials have revealed the results of an internal investigation into an incident involving world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler last Friday before the second round of the PGA Championship. The officer who initially interacted with Scheffler was cited by the Louisville Metro Police Department for failing to follow departmental procedure during the arrest. The charges against Scheffler have not been dropped and police have indicated they will let the legal process take its course.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and Louisville Metro Police Department Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel announced the findings at a news conference Thursday morning.

Detective Bryan Gillis received a “corrective action,” in Gwinn-Villaroel’s words, for violating department policy by not turning on his body camera. Greenberg said there is, at this time, no footage available “that captures the initial interaction between LMPD (Detective Gillis) and Mr. Scheffler.”

LMPD released two videos, neither of which shows the initial interaction between Gillis and Scheffler.

In the first video, the car Scheffler was driving can be seen turning left into the Valhalla Golf Club on the left side of the screen, followed by a police officer on foot wearing a yellow vest:

The second video shows the incident from a different angle, from across the street. Scheffler’s car can be seen driving past the bus and turning left into the club. Two minutes later, Scheffler was taken away handcuffed by the police.

Both videos clearly show the chaotic scene outside Valhalla, with flashing lights and rain causing visibility and clarity issues.

Neither Louisville’s police chief nor the mayor have indicated that the charges against Scheffler will be dropped.

“We respect the judicial process,” Gwinn-Villaroel said, “and we will allow the courts to proceed accordingly.”

Shortly after the press conference ended, Scheffler’s attorney, Steve Romines, reaffirmed his client’s innocence.

“Our position is the same as last Friday,” Romines said. “Scottie Scheffler did nothing wrong. We do not wish to settle the matter. Either we will try it or it will be rejected.

“…I saw everything there was to see,” he continued. “Everything that exists supports exactly what Scottie has been saying all along.”

An arraignment initially scheduled for last Tuesday was postponed until June 3. Scheffler has since traveled to Texas to compete in this week’s Charles Schwab Championship. Since he faces a felony charge, he is expected to appear in court in Louisville on June 3, the Monday of the Ohio Memorial Tournament.

On May 17, around 5 a.m., outside the gates of Valhalla Golf Club, security guard John Mills was killed when a shuttle bus hit him. Ensuing traffic, as police investigated the fatal crash, reversed in both directions on the only road that passes Valhalla. The players were allowed into the facility, but when Scheffler showed up around 6 a.m., he was arrested by an officer at the scene.

What happened next was the source of considerable debate in the hours that followed. According to the police report, shortly after the incident, the officer asked Scheffler to stop, but the world number one “refused to comply and accelerated, dragging (Gillis) to the ground.” The officer was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, and his pants — worth $80, according to the report — were a total loss.

Scheffler disputed this version of events. “I proceeded according to the instructions of the police,” he said in a later statement. “It was a very chaotic situation, which is understandable given the tragic accident that happened earlier, and there was a big misunderstanding about what I thought I was asked to do. I never had intend to disregard any instructions.

Despite this, Scheffler was removed from the vehicle, handcuffed and taken to jail for booking. He was charged with second-degree assault on a police officer (a felony), third-degree criminal mischief (a misdemeanor), reckless driving (a traffic violation), and failure to obey traffic signals. officers directing traffic (a misdemeanor).

Scheffler spent a short time in prison, but was released in time to make his accidentally delayed start at the PGA Championship. He shot an impressive 66 on Friday, but fell short on Saturday and was out of contention for the second major of the season, won by Xander Schauffele. Fans wearing “Free Scottie” t-shirts were all over the course and, ironically, he enjoyed a new burst of popularity that he had yet to achieve, even winning the Masters twice.