Charges against World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler are being dropped on Wednesday, per multiple reports.
An agreement between Scheffler and the Louisville (Ky.) Metro Police Department stipulates that both sides agree not to pursue any legal actions related to his May 17 arrest, according to NewsRadio 840 WHAS.
Scheffler, 27, was arrested as he tried to enter Valhalla Golf Club, site of the PGA Championship. Traffic had been stopped outside the course after a pedestrian was struck and killed by a shuttle bus.
According to the arrest citation, Scheffler failed to stop on arresting officer Bryan Gillis’ command, and the detective grabbed the golfer’s tournament car as Scheffler tried to drive away. Gillis fell to the ground.
As a result, Scheffler was facing charges of felony second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding signals from an officer directing traffic.
Scheffler, who called the events a “big misunderstanding,” was released from jail in time to play his second round. A four-time PGA Tour winner this season, Scheffler was the overwhelming pre-tournament favorite. He finished tied for eighth at 13 under par.
Gillis later was disciplined by his department because his body-worn camera was turned off.
However, a new video surfaced Wednesday of Scheffler’s conversation with an officer while sitting in the back of a police car. In it, Scheffler said he didn’t know that the man wearing a yellow jacket and trying to stop him was a policeman. Scheffler also said the officer “hit” him with a flashlight.
“If I knew he was a police officer, I would have been much less afraid,” Scheffler said. “But panic kind of set in. As you can see, I’m still shaking because I was afraid. I didn’t know who he was. He didn’t say, ‘Police, get out of the car.’ He just hit me with his flashlight and yelled, ‘Get out of the car.'”
Scheffler’s arraignment had been set for June 3 and his Louisville-based attorney, Steven Romines, previously said he would plead not guilty and would not accept a plea deal.
–Field Level Media