Video of Scottie Scheffler’s arrest outside PGA Championship expected to be released this week | In depth

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Video of professional golfer Scottie Scheffler’s encounter with Louisville police outside Valhalla Golf Club is expected to be released this week, Mayor Craig Greenberg told reporters Tuesday.

Footage from a pole camera located in front of the club’s Shelbyville Road entrance is apparently the only video of the incident that led to Scheffler’s arrest Friday morning, during the second day of the championship. PGA. Police said over the weekend there was no officer’s body-worn camera footage of the initial interaction.

Greenberg said he had viewed the recording but declined to describe it.

“I’m going to let the video speak for itself,” he said at a news conference in the Paristown Pointe neighborhood. “This shows the arrest of Mr. Scheffler, and I will let others draw their own conclusions.”

Greenberg said he has not had any conversations about the case with Jefferson County Prosecutor Mike O’Connell, whose office is prosecuting. “I don’t intend to,” he said. “We have to let the legal process play out as it has. And again, I’m hopeful that come June 3, all parties can move forward.”

However, the mayor did not respond to a question about whether members of his administration had conversations with O’Connell or his office, or whether he had discussed the case with anyone in the district attorney’s office County.

Greenberg referred other questions to police, including his understanding of LMPD’s body camera policies for officers working traffic and what type of investigation into the officer who arrested Scheffler, Detective Bryan Gillis.

But the mayor said that while he understands why Gillis’ body camera may not have been turned on “during the first contact between Officer Gillis and Mr. Scheffler, I still have questions about why why it was not turned on at the time of Mr. Scheffler’s arrest.

He added that he expects Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel “to make comments this week.”

LMPD spokesman Dwight Mitchell declined to say what type of investigation has begun or will take place, nor did he respond to a question seeking to clarify the body camera policy.

“We will advise and inform the media when appropriate and plans are finalized,” Mitchell said in an email response to questions.

Hours later, LMPD released a statement from Gwinn-Villaroel saying an internal investigation was underway.

“Any policy violations revealed during the investigation will be handled appropriately in accordance with the LMPD disciplinary protocol. The department intends to provide an additional update on the investigation on Thursday, May 23, 2024.”

LMPD’s body-worn camera (BWC) policy requires officers to “immediately activate their BWC in recording mode before engaging in any law enforcement activities or encounters.”

The policy also states: “If a member is involved in a sudden and unforeseen incident where urgent security concerns prevent the immediate activation of their BWC, they will activate the BWC at the first opportunity, when it is possible to do so in completely safe. , in order to capture the immediate consequences of the situation.

Greenberg said Saturday that it was unclear whether Gillis did not have a body camera or did not activate it.

Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 golfer and reigning Masters champion, was arrested and charged last Friday with felony assault on a police officer outside the golf course in eastern Jefferson County. He was taken into custody in the city center around 7:30 a.m. after allegedly refusing to stop near the scene of a fatal collision.

John Mills of Crestwood was crossing Shelbyville Road around 5 a.m. to work at Valhalla as a security guard when a shuttle bus struck and killed him, authorities said. He was 69 years old.

Steve Romines, Scheffler’s attorney, said an officer told the golfer to go onto the club grounds, but that Gillis was unaware of that order. Police accuse Scheffler of failing to follow Gillis’ instructions, speeding off and dragging the detective to the ground.

Gillis was taken to the hospital with pain, swelling and abrasions to his left knee and wrist. His uniform pants, estimated to cost $80, “were damaged beyond repair,” according to the arrest report.

Several witnesses said Gillis tried to hold on to Scheffler’s vehicle as it drove slowly forward. “Scottie didn’t know what was going on,” Romines said.

The arrest report states Gillis was “in full LMPD uniform and a high-visibility yellow reflective rain jacket” when he stopped Scheffler and attempted to give instructions.

Scheffler was originally scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday. At an impromptu hearing in Jefferson Circuit Court on Monday, County Attorney O’Connell objected to the two-week delay in the arraignment, which is now set for June 3.

O’Connell told Judge Anne Delahanty that a delay would amount to special treatment for Scheffler. Romines, visibly exasperated, argued that legal proceedings are routinely delayed.

Delahanty ruled that a delay was acceptable given that the original arraignment date was scheduled before Romines could check his schedule.

The judge also ruled that Scheffler should be present during the arraignment, which is typically required in a criminal case.

Speaking Tuesday morning, Greenberg called Romines’ request a “routine motion,” but he declined to say whether he agreed or disagreed with O’Connell’s actions.

This story may be updated.

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