Scottie Scheffler Cleared of Charges; Prosecutor Verifies Golfer’s Account with Evidence

The four criminal charges against the world’s best golfer Scottie Scheffler, including a felony assault charge, have been dropped after Jefferson County (KY) Attorney Mike O’Connell said on Wednesday that his office cannot move forward with the prosecution, ESPN reported.

O’Connell and Scheffler’s attorney, Steve Romines, appeared in court on Wednesday. O’Connell said Scheffler’s version of the incident “is corroborated by the evidence.” Scheffler said the incident with the Louisville Police was a “big misunderstanding.”

“Based upon the totality of the evidence, my office can not move forward in the prosecution of the charges filed against Mr. Scheffler,” O’Connell said. “Mr. Scheffler’s characterization that this was a ‘big misunderstanding’ is corroborated by the evidence. The evidence we reviewed supports the conclusion that Detective [Bryan] Gillis was concerned for public safety at the scene when he initiated contact with Mr. Scheffler. However, Mr. Scheffler’s actions and the evidence surrounding their exchange during this misunderstanding do not satisfy the elements of any criminal offenses.”

Here is Jefferson County Attorney Mike O’Connell explaining why he is dropping all charges against golfer Scottie Scheffler: pic.twitter.com/4ngxnlIf2H

— Paul Miles (@PaulMiles840) May 29, 2024

The 27-year-old golfer was arrested on May 17 after he attempted to drive into the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, to prepare for the second round of the PGA Championship. A fatal accident involving a pedestrian had stopped traffic, preventing Scheffler and other golfers from getting to the golf club’s entrance, but Scheffler said he was told by a police officer to drive “the opposite way with the traffic” to get into the golf club.

Moments later, another officer with the Louisville Police Department, Detective Bryan Gillis, reportedly told Scheffler to stop his vehicle. Scheffler was accused of failing to come to a stop, and police said the golfer “dragged” Gillis when he continued to drive forward. After Scheffler stopped his car, the golfer was arrested and taken to jail where he was charged with second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding traffic signals from an officer directing traffic.

“He demanded to be let in, and proceeded forward against my directions,” Gillis wrote in his police report. “I was dragged/knocked down by the driver. I then proceeded to arrest the driver.”

In a video following Scheffler’s arrest, the golfer told another officer that he didn’t know Gillis was a policeman, adding that his arm was “grabbed” while he was driving toward the golf club.

“So, I’m pulling in here [and] the police officer up there told me to come the opposite way with the traffic and then come in; and as I was pulling in, my window was down, an officer told me to stop,” Scheffler said. “First of all, I did not know he was a police officer. I thought he was one of the security guards that was mistaken; and as I was pulling by him, he grabbed my arm.”

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said Detective Gillis “did not have body cam footage turned on during the incident,” and the officer was disciplined for failing to turn his body camera on during the arrest.

Scheffler released a statement following the incident saying that “a very chaotic situation” caused a “big misunderstanding of what I thought I was being asked to do.”

“This morning, I was proceeding as directed by police officers,” he said. “It was a very chaotic situation, understandably so considering the tragic accident that occurred earlier, and there was a big misunderstanding of what I thought I was being asked to do.”

“I never intended to disregard any of the instructions. I’m hopeful to put this to the side and focus on golf today,” Scheffler added. “Of course, all of us involved in the tournament express our deepest sympathies to the family of the man who passed away in the earlier accident this morning. It truly puts everything into perspective.”

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