Charges against Scottie Scheffler following an incident with Louisville police at the PGA Championship have been dropped.
But while speaking about it Wednesday, Scheffler’s lawyers got into a heated exchange with a reporter who asked about the video of the golf star’s interaction with police officers.
Steve Romines held a press conference after the charges against his client were dropped (reportedly, both sides tried to resolve the matter “amicably”) and criticized the Louisville Police Department for their treatment of Scheffler during his arrest.
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Scottie Scheffler leaves the first green during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Valhalla Golf Club on May 19, 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. (Adam Cairns-USA Today Sports)
WAVE News reporter Natalia Martinez then asked a question, suggesting Scheffler’s remorse didn’t line up with what he said in the body camera footage that was released.
Scheffler said the officer, after being read his Miranda rights, said his colleague had been “dragged” by Scheffler’s vehicle, and Scheffler agreed, indicating Scheffler was aware that what he said could be used in court.
“No, this is what happened,” Romines quickly responded. “He’s being interrogated after the most stressful situation of his life, and the cops are actually asking him leading questions, trying to get him to agree to it. So it’s best not to talk to the police, because they’ll try to stuff words in your mouth! And that’s exactly what they did.”
Charges against Scottie Scheffler in PGA Championship arrest dismissed
“He didn’t have to talk, but he asked to speak to the officers again. He wanted to explain to the officers what happened. But the officers were trying to get him to confess to something he didn’t do, and the video evidence shows he didn’t do that.”
Body camera footage shows Scheffler being handcuffed in a police vehicle and being asked by officers what happened. Scheffler begins to explain the situation, saying they had to “go all the way around” traffic on the road because a man volunteering for the tournament at Valhalla Golf Club had been hit and killed by a shuttle bus.
Scheffler said the officer instructed him to go the way he had gone, going against traffic. He further stated that the officer instructed him to stop, but that he thought it was the security guard who misunderstood why he was going in that direction. The officer suggested that Scheffler should have stopped his vehicle anyway.
“You’re right, I should have stopped,” Scheffler responded. “I was pretty late for tee time so I was a little annoyed. When he reached into the car he grabbed me by the shoulder and punched me. The entrance was open so I thought he was being a little too aggressive. I was scared he was going to punch me so I pulled over for a bit. I didn’t know who he was. He didn’t say he was a police officer.”
“He shone a flashlight on me and yelled, ‘Get out of the car,'” Scheffler added.
“You actually hurt him. He’s a police officer,” the officer speaking to Scheffler says later in the video. “He’s got a big abrasion on his knee. Paramedics are examining him. He’s got a big bruise. So, we don’t know.”
Officers said it was up to Detective Brian Gillis whether Scheffler would go to jail. Scheffler was arrested and charged with four counts, including felony assault, for the injury to Gillis.
Scottie Scheffler tees off on the eighth hole during the third round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, USA, May 18, 2024. (Claire Grant/USA Today Sports)
But Jefferson County Attorney Mike O’Connell was in court Wednesday and filed a motion to dismiss the charges.
“The evidence we have reviewed supports the conclusion that Detective Brian Gillis was concerned about public safety at the scene when he initiated contact with Mr. Scheffler. However, Mr. Scheffler’s actions and the evidence during their interactions and this misunderstanding do not meet the elements of any criminal conduct.”
Gillis was also reprimanded for not turning on his body camera, according to Louisville Police Chief Jacqueline Gwynn Villaroel, who said at a news conference that an internal investigation found proper procedures had not been followed and that “corrective action” had been taken.
Footage from outside Valhalla Golf Club was released and, as Scheffler described, shows the car window open and Gillis running to the car and getting inside, but at no point is he seen being dragged by the car.
Gillis issued a statement following the decision to drop the charges against Schaeffler.
“Mr. Schaeffler and I have agreed to bear no ill will regarding this matter going forward,” the statement read. “Instead of responding negatively publicly, he has chosen to speak with dignity, humility and respect, for which I and my family are grateful.”
Golfer Scottie Scheffler stands on the 18th green during the second round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Course in Louisville, Kentucky, Friday, May 17, 2024. (Matt Stone/Courier Journal/USA Today Network)
Gillis said he was “disappointed and disturbed” to hear Romines call the situation a “false arrest” and would be “surprised and disappointed if Mr. Scheffler actually engaged in these comments.”
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Schaeffler also issued a statement regarding the charges being dropped.
“Today I was informed by my attorney, Steve Romines, that all charges related to the incident that occurred outside Valhalla Golf Club on May 17th have been officially dropped,” Scheffler wrote on Instagram. “As I have stated previously, this was an unfortunate misunderstanding. I bear no ill will towards Officer Gillis. I would like to put this incident behind me and move forward, and I ask that he do the same. Police officers have a difficult job and I have high regard for them. This was a serious miscommunication in a chaotic situation.”
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