Top-ranked golfer Scottie Scheffler can breathe a sigh of relief today.
The Jefferson County Attorney's Office in Louisville, Kentucky, has decided to drop all criminal charges against Scheffler stemming from the traffic incident that occurred earlier this month outside the PGA Championship. During a court hearing on Wednesday, Jefferson County Attorney Mike O'Connell made the call for dismissal with prejudice, ensuring the charges won’t see the light of day again.
“Based upon the totality of the evidence, my office cannot move forward in the prosecution of the charges filed against Mr. Scheffler,” O'Connell said according to ESPN. “Mr. Scheffler's characterization that this was a 'big misunderstanding' is corroborated by the evidence. The evidence we reviewed supports the conclusion that Detective [Bryan] 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 during this misunderstanding do not satisfy the elements of any criminal offenses.”
Almost two weeks ago, the world's No. 1 golfer found himself in a serious legal bind during a chaotic scene outside Valhalla Golf Club after traffic had slowed following a separate tragic accident. On May 17, Scheffler was arrested after a Louisville Metro Police detective said that Scheffler's SUV suddenly accelerated, knocking him to the ground as he attempted to navigate around the congestion.
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The event occurred just hours before Scheffler was due to tee off for his second round, following a morning where a man was tragically struck and killed by a shuttle bus. Despite the high-pressure situation, Scheffler, 27, was processed and released in less than two hours, facing severe allegations including felony second-degree assault of a police officer.
“I think 'hectic' would probably be a good description [of my week],” Scheffler said after finishing 8th in the 2024 PGA Championship. “Overall, right now, how I'm feeling, I'm fairly tired, definitely a lot more tired than I have been finishing some other tournaments. But I'm proud of today how we went out there and fought. I got off to kind of a slow start, and I was able to kind of get some momentum and post a good round and give myself some good momentum.”
Scheffler's legal team was gearing up for a fight, with his attorney, Steve Romines, making it clear that the world's top golfer was standing his ground. His lawyer confidently stated that Scheffler would plead not guilty, dismissing any notion of settling for a plea deal. “I am prepared to litigate as needed and the case will be dismissed, or we will go to trial because Scottie did absolutely nothing wrong,” Romines said.
Louisville Metro Police Department Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel revealed on Thursday that Detective Gillis faced disciplinary action for failing to activate his body-cam during the incident involving Scheffler. Following the altercation, Gillis required medical attention and was swiftly taken to a hospital for evaluation. The police incident report detailed that he endured “pain, swelling, and abrasions” to his left wrist and knee, and his pants were so badly damaged they were considered beyond repair.
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