Scottie Scheffler charges dropped after PGA Championship arrest
The charges against Scottie Scheffler stemming from a May 17 arrest before the second round of the PGA Championship in Louisville, Ky., will be dropped.
Jefferson County Attorney Mike O’Connell filed a motion Wednesday to dismiss all charges against Scheffler because the golfer’s claim of a “big misunderstanding” was “corroborated by the evidence.”
Earlier in the day, Terry Meiners of WHAS reported that the agreement between parties “stipulates that both sides agree not to pursue any legal action related to the ramifications” of Scheffler’s detainment earlier this month outside Valhalla Golf Club.
Later Wednesday, Scheffler issued a statement, saying there would be no ill will toward Det. Bryan Gillis who had made the arrest.
“I wish to put this incident behind me and move on, and I hope he will do the same. Police officers have a difficult job and I hold them in high regard. This was a severe miscommunication in a chaotic situation,” Scheffler wrote.
As for Gillis, he said in a statement that he has no bad feelings about Scheffler, but did seemingly take offense at Sheffler’s lawyer Steve Romine’s assertion that it was a “false arrest,” claiming the attorney was questioning the officer’s integrity.
Nevertheless, Gillis was ready to put the manner behind him, too, and appreciated how Scheffler handled the situation in the aftermath of the arrest.
“Mr. Scheffler and I both agree that there will be no ill will over this going forward,” Gillis wrote. “Instead of giving a negative public reaction, he chose to speak with dignity, humility and respect. My family and I appreciate that.”
Scheffler had been attempting to enter Valhalla ahead of his second-round tee time, but there had been a miscommunication over traffic flow after a fatal accident involving a shuttle bus near the course.
The 27-year-old was subsequently arrested and charged with second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding signals from officer directing traffic.
In unearthed footage of the incident that circulated Wednesday, Scheffler could be heard speaking to a cop while in the back of a police car, stating he didn’t stop the vehicle because he didn’t know if the individual trying to stop him was an officer.
Scheffler spoke about his interaction with Gillis, who attempted to stop the world’s top-ranked golfer from maneuvering through the traffic outside the course.
Gillis did not have his bodycam on during the ordeal and has been given “corrective action” by the Louisville Metro Police Department.
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Scheffler was eventually released from custody before the start of his second-round tee time on May 17 and finished the tournament at 13-under par.
“I can’t really explain what happened this morning. I was pretty rattled to say the least. I was never angry. I was just in shock. I was shaking for like an hour. It was definitely a new feeling for me,” Scheffler told reporters after he shot a 5-under 66 in the second round.
Steve Romines, Scheffler’s lawyer, spoke glowingly about his client Wednesday after the charges were dropped.
“Scottie Scheffler — you cannot find one person to say a bad word about him. When he’s in a police car after being falsely arrested, he is still a perfect gentleman. . . . The restraint and character he evidenced not only during the incident but after the incident as he’s being taken downtown, and in the press conference that day. . . We need more Scottie Schefflers in the world,” Romines said, according to WDRB.
Scheffler, a two-time Masters champion, competed in the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas, this past weekend.
He tied for second at 9-under with Keegan Bradley.
