Scottie Scheffler to have charges dropped following arrest outside PGA Championship
Charges dropped against golfer Scottie Scheffler
Criminal charges against Scottie Scheffler have been dismissed, ending a legal saga that began with images of the world's top male golfer being arrested and handcuffed in Louisville during the PGA Championship. Jefferson County Attorney Mike O'Connell, a local prosecutor, asked a judge Wednesday afternoon to drop the four charges against Scheffler, who was not required to be in the courtroom Wednesday.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Pro-golfer Scottie Scheffler will have criminal charges against him dropped after he was arrested and handcuffed earlier this month during the PGA Championship.
Jefferson County Attorney Mike O’Connell, a local prosecutor, asked a judge Wednesday afternoon to drop the four charges against Scheffler.
O’Connell said his team reviewed the case in a "thorough and expeditious manner." He believed that Scheffler’s account of the incident being a big misunderstanding was corroborated by the evidence.
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The golfer was charged with a felony for assaulting a police officer with his vehicle, along with three misdemeanors. The arresting officer, Detective Bryan Gillis, was outside the gate of Valhalla Golf Course May 17 directing traffic after a pedestrian death when he encountered Scheffler.
Scheffler, 27, was driving a PGA courtesy vehicle when Gillis said he "refused to comply and accelerated forward, dragging" Gillis to the ground. Gillis said his uniform pants were damaged in the fall and he was taken to the hospital for his injuries.
A surveillance video released by Louisville police last week showed Gillis pursuing Scheffler’s vehicle on foot and stopping him from entering the course. Scheffler is later pulled from the car and cuffed. But the video did not show Gillis’ first contact with Scheffler, authorities said.
RELATED: Scottie Scheffler arrest video released by Louisville police
Gillis has been disciplined for not activating his body-worn camera during the arrest. In a report on that failure, Gillis wrote that Scheffler had "demanded to be let in" the golf course.
Scheffler has said he simply misunderstood the commands coming from traffic officers.
The famous golfer spent a brief stint in a jail cell, then returned to the course for the second round. He finished the tournament tied for eighth place.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. This story was reported from Los Angeles.