james corrigan
·4 min read
Scottie Scheffler’s legal team has told the Louisville Police Department the only reason the world No 1 will not sue is because “it would be the taxpayers who suffer” after the four charges he picked up at the US PGA were dropped on Wednesday.
Most notably, Scheffler was cleared of assaulting a police officer - an offence that could conceivably have resulted in jail time - after city authorities decided there was not enough evidence to convict.
The 27-year-old was arrested two weeks ago for attempting to circumnavigate congestion triggered by a fatality outside Valhalla Country Club before Friday’s play at the season’s second major.
A traffic officer accused Scheffler of ignoring his instructions and accelerating away in his courtesy car and, in the process, “‘dragging” him along and causing injuries from which the detective was hospitalised. After the obligatory mugshot in an orange prisoner uniform that went around the globe, Scheffler was later released from a cell in time to compete in the tournament.
The reigning Masters champion - who went on to record a top 10 at the US PGA - was due in court next Monday for the start of the case, but a dismissal was filed on Wednesdaybecause, the county attorney concluded that the golfer’s claim of a “big misunderstanding” was “corroborated by the evidence.”
Not only was the charge of second-degree assault of a police officer withdrawn but so, too, were the other three counts, that were all basically traffic misdemeanours. “Mr Scheffler’s characterisation that this was a ‘big misunderstanding’ is corroborated by the evidence,” Jefferson County attorney Mike O’Connell said in a brief court appearance.
“The evidence we reviewed supports the conclusion that detective Gillis was concerned for public safety at the scene when he initiated contact with Mr Scheffler. However, Mr Scheffler’s actions and the evidence surrounding their exchange and misunderstanding do not satisfy the elements of any criminal offences.”
Judge Anne Delahanty quickly approved the motion. Earlier in the day, local newspapers reported that the charges would be ditched only on condition that Scheffler does not pursue any legal action of his own in relation to the already infamous incident.However, Steve Romines, Scheffler’s lawyer, insisted this was incorrect.
“You believe they would have dismissed this case if he [the police officer] was actually dragged? No,” Romines said, before explaining that, despite the fact the lawyers were ready to litigate in civil court with confidence of success, Scheffler has instructed otherwise, and not only because he wants to concentrate on his golf. ‘Scottie doesn’t wish for the taxpayers of Louisville to have to pay for whatever occurred,” Romines explained.
Scheffler will be hugely relieved to put the saga behind him. With an arraignment hearing due next week there was a chance that the issue - and the threat of a criminal record that would work in a direct contrast to his clean-cut public image - could have still be hanging over him at the US Open in a fortnight’s time and even at the Open in Troon in July. In truth, the affair could affect him for some time.
After a fatal accident earlier that morning - in which John Mills, a security guard working at the tournament was hit by a shuttle bus - the traffic was halted in both directions.However, players were allowed through and Scheffler insists he took instructions from police as he circumnavigated the congestion.
Yet in the report, Detective Bryan Gillis stated that Scheffler ignored him and sped forward. It was at that point that Gillis says he was “dragged” along, sustaining injuries to his legs and wrists. Gillis was later disciplined for failing to activate his bodycam, but footage acquired from other cameras at the scene were inconclusive and, as the attorney said, in no way stood up the detective’s damning claims.
However, newly unearthed audio of the minutes after the arrest suggest that Scheffler realised that he was, at least to some extent, at fault. A colleague of Gillis told Scheffler. “What happened is, you kept going, and you took him with you, while he’s a pedestrian,” the officer said. “You took him with your car.” Schefflerreplied “yes”.
But Romines was unconvinced and sought to end the debate with a chilling statement. “The officer was actually asking him leading questions and trying to get him to agree with them,” he said. “And that’s why you don’t talk to the police.”
Scheffler was rather more circ*mspect in his statement on social media. “I hold no ill will toward Officer Gillis,” he posted. “I wish to put this incident behind me and move on, and I hope he will do the same. Police officers have a difficult job and I hold them in high regard.”
