Louisville, Kentucky Mayor Craig Greenberg stated that the officer allegedly dragged by World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler’s car did not have his bodycam on to record the incident.
Scheffler was handcuffed and charged with felony assault of a police officer outside Valhalla Golf Club while attempting to access the PGA Championship after a fatal accident caused traffic delays.
According to Mayor Greenberg (via WDRB), Detective Bryan Gillis, the officer involved in the incident, either was not wearing a body camera or had not turned it on.
RELATED: PGA Championship Fan Already Made T-Shirt With Scottie Scheffler’s Mugshot On It
Scheffler was booked around 7:30 a.m. for second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding signals from officers directing traffic.
“The officer did not have a bodycam turned on during the incident,” Greenberg said. “We will release the footage that we have.”
The arrest report claims that Scheffler tried to access the course by pulling into the opposite lane to avoid backed-up traffic.
Gillis, who was “in full LMPD uniform and a hi-visibility yellow reflective rain jacket,” stopped Scheffler and “attempted to give instructions,” according to the report.
“Subject refused to comply and accelerated forward, dragging Detective Gillis to the ground,” police allege. Gillis was taken to the hospital with pain, swelling, and abrasions to his left knee and wrist, and his uniform pants were “damaged beyond repair.”
Scheffler’s attorney, Steve Romines, asserts that the accusations of Scheffler dragging a police officer are “false.”
The felony charge against Scheffler is punishable by five to ten years in prison.
In a statement released on social media, Scheffler said:
“This morning, I was proceeding as directed by police officers. It was a very chaotic situation, understandably so considering the tragic accident that had occurred earlier, and there was a big misunderstanding of what I thought I was being asked to do. I never intended to disregard any of the instructions. I’m hopeful to put this to the side and focus on golf today. Of course, all of us involved in the tournament express our deepest sympathies to the family of the man who passed away in the earlier accident this morning. It truly puts everything in perspective.”
