Louisville officials have completed an internal investigation into an incident involving golfer Scottie Scheffler before the second round of the PGA Championship. The Louisville Metro Police Department cited the officer who initially interacted with Scheffler for failing to follow departmental procedure during the arrest. Charges against Scheffler have not been dropped, and the police are allowing the judicial process to continue. The mayor and police chief announced the findings at a press conference, indicating that there is no footage capturing the initial interaction between the officer and Scheffler. Two videos released by the LMPD show the incident from different angles, but do not show the initial interaction.
Detective Gillis received corrective action for violating department policy by not turning on his body camera during the incident. The Louisville police chief and mayor stated that the charges against Scheffler would not be dropped, citing respect for the judicial process. Scheffler’s attorney reiterated his client’s innocence, stating that they are not interested in settling the case and will proceed to trial or seek dismissal. The incident occurred outside Valhalla Golf Club in the early hours of May 17, where a security guard died in a shuttle bus accident prior to Scheffler’s arrival. The details of what transpired between Scheffler and the officer remained unclear, with conflicting accounts from both parties.
Scheffler maintained his innocence, stating that he was following police instructions during the chaotic situation outside Valhalla. Despite his version of events, he was removed from the vehicle, handcuffed, and taken to jail for booking. Charges against Scheffler included second-degree assault of a police officer, criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding signals from officers directing traffic. Scheffler spent a short time in jail before being released in time to compete in the PGA Championship, where he shot an impressive 66 but did not contend for the title. Fans showed support for Scheffler by wearing “Free Scottie” t-shirts during the tournament.
An arraignment for Scheffler was initially scheduled for this past Tuesday but was delayed to June 3. Scheffler has traveled to Texas to play in the Charles Schwab Championship, but will be required to attend court in Louisville on June 3 due to the felony charge he is facing. Despite the legal proceedings, Scheffler has continued to focus on his golf career and has seen a surge in popularity following the incident at Valhalla. The PGA Championship was ultimately won by Xander Schauffele, while Scheffler’s performance on the course garnered attention amidst the legal controversy surrounding his arrest.
