LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Criminal charges against Scottie Scheffler have been dismissed, leaving the world’s top golfer Arrested and handcuffed in Louisville during the PGA Championship.
Jefferson County Attorney Mike O’Connell asked a judge Wednesday afternoon to dismiss four charges against Scheffler, who did not have to appear in court. Prosecutors said Scheffler’s explanation that he had mistaken him for a traffic cop was “supported by the evidence.”
“Considering the totality of the evidence, my office cannot proceed with the prosecution of the charges against Mr. Scheffler,” O’Connell said during the brief hearing.
In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Scheffler said his arrest and imprisonment on May 17 was an “unfortunate misunderstanding” amid a “chaotic situation.”
The charges against the world’s No. 1 golfer were dismissed after a court hearing on Wednesday, reports correspondent Gethin Coolbaugh.
“I want to put this behind me and hope (the officers) do the same. Police officers have a difficult job, but I think highly of them,” Scheffler said.
Scheffler was charged with a felony count of assaulting a police officer with a vehicle and three misdemeanors when the arresting officer, Detective Brian Gillis, encountered Scheffler while directing traffic outside the gates of Valhalla Golf Course following a fatal pedestrian collision.
A video of a handcuffed Scheffler being taken away by police went viral online, followed by a mugshot of Scheffler in an orange jumpsuit from the Louisville jail.
O’Connell said Wednesday that prosecutors thoroughly reviewed the evidence in the case before deciding to drop the charges.
“The evidence we have reviewed supports the conclusion that Detective Gillis was concerned about public safety at the scene when he made contact with Mr. Scheffler,” O’Connell said, “However, the evidence regarding Mr. Scheffler’s actions and interactions during this misunderstanding does not meet the requirements for any criminal conduct.”
O’Connell said Scheffler was unaware of the pedestrian fatality and that several PGA-marked vehicles, such as Scheffler’s, were able to enter the course without issue. But buses that tried to enter were stopped and told to turn around. Gillis was on scene, stopping vehicles to allow buses to turn around, and Scheffler’s car was one of the first to arrive at the spot where Gillis was holding up traffic, O’Connell said.
Gillis said in the police report that Scheffler then “refused to comply, accelerated and dragged Gillis to the ground.” Gillis said his uniform pants ripped in the fall and he was taken to the hospital with injuries.
a Surveillance video released by Louisville Police Footage from last week showed Gillis pursuing Schaeffler’s car on foot and blocking him from entering the track, before Schaeffler was dragged from the car and handcuffed, but authorities said the footage did not show Gillis’ initial contact with Schaeffler.
Gillis was reprimanded. Do not activate body-worn cameras During the arrest, Scheffler “demanded to be allowed onto” the golf course, Gillis wrote.
The famous golfer returned to the course for the second round after a brief stint in prison. Finished the tournament Tied for 8th place.
Scheffler’s attorney, Steve Romines, said witness testimony confirmed the officer was not being dragged by his client’s vehicle.
“The more evidence that comes out, the clearer it becomes that Scotty was a victim, and I think anybody who sees something like this happen realizes that one wrong move could have put them in prison,” he said after the hearing.
Romines also said he has grounds to file a civil lawsuit against the Louisville Police Department, but Scheffler does not intend to pursue the suit.
“Scotty Scheffler doesn’t want Louisville taxpayers to pay a dime,” he said.
O’Connell and Romines also addressed the pedestrian death of John Mills, 69, a Games volunteer.
“The events that brought us here today began with a tragedy … and I hope that more attention will be focused on Mr. Mills and his life,” O’Connell said.
Romines said he had spoken with Mills’ family to convey Scheffler’s condolences.
“Without people like John Mills working, we couldn’t have a tournament like this,” Romines said.
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Associated Press writer Bruce Schreiner contributed to this report.
