Criminal charges against Scottie Scheffler have been dismissed, ending a legal saga that began with images of the world鈥檚 top golfer being in Louisville during the PGA Championship.
Jefferson County Attorney Mike O鈥機onnell asked a judge Wednesday afternoon to drop the four charges against Scheffler, who was not required to be in the courtroom. The prosecutor said his team reviewed the case in a 鈥渢horough and expeditious manner.鈥�
鈥淏ased upon the totality of the evidence, my office cannot move forward in the prosecution of the charges filed against Mr. Scheffler,鈥� O鈥機onnell said during the hearing that lasted less than 10 minutes. 鈥淢r. Scheffler鈥檚 characterization that this was 鈥榓 big misunderstanding鈥� is corroborated by the evidence.鈥�
Scheffler鈥檚 attorney, Steve Romines, said the golfer is 鈥渉appy it鈥檚 over鈥� and 鈥渙bviously, he didn鈥檛 do anything wrong.鈥�
Scheffler 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.
During the hearing, prosecutor O鈥機onnell said the findings of his office鈥檚 review of the case led him to request the dismissal of the charges.
鈥淭he evidence we reviewed supports the conclusion that Detective Gillis was concerned for public safety at the scene when he initiated contact with Mr. Scheffler,鈥� O鈥機onnell said. 鈥淗owever, Mr. Scheffler鈥檚 actions and the evidence surrounding their exchange during this misunderstanding do not satisfy the elements of any criminal offenses.鈥�
Romines was asked if he wanted to comment and replied: 鈥淛udge, it鈥檚 taken me a long time to understand that when I鈥檓 winning, don鈥檛 talk. So I have nothing to say, your honor.鈥�
The judge then accepted the dismissal motion.
Scheffler, 27, was driving a PGA courtesy vehicle when Gillis said he 鈥渞efused to comply and accelerated forward, dragging鈥� 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鈥檚 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鈥� first contact with Scheffler, authorities said.
Gillis has been disciplined for during the arrest. In a report on that failure, Gillis wrote that Scheffler had 鈥渄emanded to be let in鈥� 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 tied for eighth place.
Romines said eyewitness accounts confirmed that the officer was not dragged by Scheffler鈥檚 car.
鈥淭he more evidence that comes out, the more it shows that Scottie was a victim here. And I think everybody sees something like this happen and realizes they鈥檙e one wrong turn 鈥� from going to jail themselves,鈥� he said after the hearing.
The lawyer said there were grounds for a civil lawsuit against the Louisville police department but Scheffler is not interested in pursuing litigation.
鈥淪cottie Scheffler doesn鈥檛 want the taxpayers of Louisville to have to pay him a dime,鈥� he said.
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