All four of Scottie Scheffler’s charges have been dropped following his arrest during the PGA Championship.
Jefferson County Attorney Mike O’Connell revealed prosecutors won’t move forward with the case from the World No.1’s detainment on May 17 when he was attempting to enter Valhalla Golf Club.
“Based upon the totality of the evidence, my office cannot move forward in the prosecution of the charges filed against Mr Scheffler. Mr Scheffler’s characterisation that this was ‘a big misunderstanding‘ is corroborated by the evidence,” O’Connell said on Wednesday.
“The evidence we reviewed supports the conclusion that Detective 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 offences.”
The reigning Masters champion has posted a statement in response to the news:
“As I stated previously, this was an unfortunate misunderstanding. I hold no ill will toward Officer Gillis. 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.
“I appreciate the support during the past two weeks and want to again encourage everyone to remember the real tragedy of May 17. My thoughts and prayers continue to be with Jon Mills and his family, and I hope to personally offer my condolences now that the case is over. May John rest in peace.”
Stunning footage emerged across global news channels of Scheffler being ushered into a police car in handcuffs on the morning of the PGA Championship’s second round.
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He was charged with second-degree assault, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding traffic signals from an officer, but it later emerged that Detective Bryan Gillis, who confronted Scheffler, didn’t have his body-worn camera activated.
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The Louisville police department subsequently announced Gillis would receive corrective action and released footage from two different camera angles of the incident on Shelbyville Road in Louisville, Kentucky where Scheffler was arrested.
The two-time major champion was trying to negotiate a way into the golf course through the heavy police presence, following a fatal accident that had happened earlier in which John Mills was killed.
The police report of the incident detailed that Detective Gillis was dragged across the road after attaching himself to Scheffler’s car after the Texan allegedly ignored the officer’s instructions. The report said Gillis suffered pain, swelling and abrasions to his left wrist and knee and his trousers approximately worth $80 were “damaged beyond repair.” Neither camera on the road showed footage that supported this description.
With the US Open at Pinehurst 15 days away, Scheffler’s case has come to a somewhat swift end. More footage emerged on Wednesday of the PGA Tour star’s verbal exchange with an officer in the morning of the arrest which you can watch below.
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