Scottie Scheffler, the world’s top-ranked golfer, is facing felony charges for allegedly assaulting a police officer during an incident where the officer claims he was dragged by Scheffler’s car. Detective Bryan Gillis, who arrested Scheffler, was disciplined for failing to activate his body camera during the arrest, which violated police department policy. The Louisville Metropolitan Police Department has taken corrective action on Gillis’ performance observation form, said Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel.
Scheffler faces charges of second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding signals from officers directing traffic. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg stated that they intend to let the legal process play out. There is no video footage of the initial interaction between police and Scheffler, but videos from nearby stationary cameras were released by the police. Scheffler is scheduled for an arraignment on June 3, and his lawyer, Steven Romines, has stated that his client did not do anything wrong and they are not interested in settling the case.
The incident occurred when Scheffler was driving to the Valhalla Golf Club for the second round of the PGA Championship. According to the police report, Detective Gillis stopped Scheffler and attempted to give him instructions, but Scheffler allegedly refused to comply and accelerated forward, dragging Gillis to the ground. Gillis suffered injuries to his left wrist and was hospitalized. Scheffler claims he was proceeding as directed by the police officers during a chaotic situation and there was a misunderstanding of what he was being asked to do.
Scottie Scheffler, 27, is the 29th-highest-paid athlete in the world, earning $59.2 million last year. His earnings come from winnings on the PGA Tour and endorsements from Nike, TaylorMade, and Veritex Bank. Scheffler set a PGA Tour record for on-course earnings in 2023 and continues to perform well in the sport. The incident involving the police officer has raised concerns and drawn attention to Scheffler as he navigates the legal process. Further details and updates on the situation are expected as the case progresses, and Scheffler’s arraignment approaches on June 3. The golfer and his legal team are focused on defending his actions and clearing his name in this matter.
