Professional golfer Scottie Scheffler had a tumultuous start to the second round of the 2024 PGA Championship when he was detained by the Louisville Metro Police after an accident involving a pedestrian took place near the Valhalla Golf Club. The pedestrian was fatally struck by a shuttle bus, leading to the closure of all lanes of traffic while the investigation occurred. Despite being released the same day, Scheffler’s legal matters are far from over.
Scheffler’s arrest stemmed from an incident where he was attempting to reach the Valhalla Golf Club for the tournament. Detective Bryan Gillis was directing traffic following the pedestrian’s death, and Scheffler reportedly refused to comply with instructions, dragging Gillis to the ground as he accelerated forward. Scheffler was handcuffed and taken into custody, later being released to return to the tournament.
Following the incident, Gillis was taken to the hospital for evaluation due to pain, swelling, and abrasions to his left wrist and knees. Witnesses, including ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington, corroborated this sequence of events, with Darlington describing Scheffler’s actions in detail and noting the rapid and aggressive nature of the situation leading to the golfer’s arrest.
Scheffler faced multiple charges as a result of the incident, including a felony for second-degree assault of a police officer, as well as misdemeanors for third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding traffic signals from an officer. His arraignment was initially scheduled for May 21 but was later moved to June 3, extending the legal processes surrounding the case.
In a statement released via the PGA, Scheffler addressed the incident before returning to the tournament, expressing hope to focus on golf and putting the situation behind him. He mentioned the chaotic and misunderstood nature of the events that unfolded, expressing condolences to the family of the pedestrian who passed away earlier that day. Despite the challenges he faced, Scheffler aimed to focus on his performance on the golf course moving forward.
