Police make confession over officer who arrested Scottie Scheffler – but charges won’t be dropped

Scottie Scheffler was arrested prior to the second round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club last week, and more details of the incident have emerged

Louisville Police have admitted that the officer who arrested world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler at Valhalla Golf Club broke policy by not switching on his bodycam during the incident, however this will not result in charges being dropped.

When arriving on site in Kentucky for round two of the PGA Championship last week, Scheffler reportedly bypassed traffic in a bid to gain access to the Valhalla players’ entrance. An hour prior to his arrival, a car accident involving a shuttle bus led to the death of a tournament worker, later named as 69-year-old John Mills.

None-the-wiser to the incident, Scheffler continued to make his way to the golf course despite instructions from the authorities, which led to the world No. 1 being handcuffed and placed into the back of a police car.

Scheffler was then taken to a local police station and charged with second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding signals from officers directing traffic. It was expected that recording from the police officer’s bodycam would be revealed, however according to Lousiville Mayor Craig Greenberg, the footage was either lost or the camera was not turned on.

“The officer did not have a bodycam footage turned on during the incident,” the Mayor said. We will release the footage that we have. We did not have any — to my knowledge.

“We have not discovered any video of the initial contact between Officer Gillis and Mr. Scheffler.” During a Louisville Police press conference it was confirmed that Gillis did in fact fail to turn on his bodycam, which goes against LMPD policy.

Louisville Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said in a statement: “Detective Gillis did not have his body-worn camera operational ready. Our officer has received corrective action for his policy violation. We respect the judicial process, and we will allow the courts to proceed.”

It was confirmed that the trial will continue to go ahead as planned despite reports over possible dropped charges. Scheffler’s attorney Steve Romines, continue to plead the innocence of his client, insisting the world No. 1, “didn’t do anything wrong.”

On the back of his five-under-par 66, the American addressed the earlier incident, describing it as a ‘misunderstanding’, whilst offering his condolences to Mr Mills’ family. “My sympathy goes to the family of Mr. Mills, he said. “I can’t imagine what the family is going through this morning.

“He is trying to cross a street and he is now longer with us. I can’t imagine what they are going through, I feel for them and I am sorry. My situation will get handled, it was just a chaotic situation and a big misunderstanding… With what happened outside, my heart goes out to the family.” After schedule conflict with Scheffler’s attorney Steve Romines, the case will go to trial on June 3.