Bryan Gillis — the Louisville police detective who arrested Scottie Scheffler in Valhalla earlier this month — is furious about having his “honesty and integrity” questioned after all charges against the world’s No. 1 golfer were dropped Wednesday.
Scheffler faced four charges after the dramatic events of May 17, including second-degree assault on a police officer; when he was arrested and led away in handcuffs after arriving for the second round of the PGA Championship.
The 27-year-old was accused of speeding in his car when officers told him to stop – dragging Gillis to the ground – before being arrested and jailed in an astonishing series of events.
On Wednesday, however, Scheffler was acquitted of all charges after the Jefferson County District Attorney’s office filed a motion to dismiss the case, admitting that his claim that it was all a misunderstanding “is borne out by the evidence.”
After the law firm decided not to take criminal action, Gillis released a statement praising the golf star for agreeing to move on from the incident, while also paying tribute to the family of John Mills – the 69-year-old who hit by a bus and killed outside Valhalla before Scheffler’s arrest.
Louisville Police Detective Bryan Gillis has broken his silence after all charges against Scottie Scheffler were dropped
Scheffler was arrested earlier this month while en route to the PGA Championship in Valhalla
“A tragic incident has occurred and Mr. Mills’ family remains in my family’s thoughts and prayers,” he said in a statement. ‘This was a chaotic situation for everyone involved. Ensuring the safety of everyone in the area was my top priority.
‘Mr. Scheffler and I both agree that there will be no ill will about it in the future. Instead of making a negative public response, he chose to speak with dignity, humility and respect. My family and I appreciate that.
“It was unfortunate and disturbing to hear Steve Romines’ comments today claiming a ‘false arrest’ had been made and questioning my honesty and integrity. I would be surprised and disappointed if Mr. Scheffler actually played a role in making these statements. To be clear, the car stunned me, I fell to the ground, and I suffered visible injuries to my knees and wrist. I’m going to recover from it, and I’ll be fine. This is the extent of my commentary on the incident. The reality is that there are more important things in the world right now than the back and forth about this. A person lost their life that day, and a family lost a loved one.
“Ultimately, I take pride in working for the people in the community to ensure their safety. I’ve spent twenty years trying to protect this city during difficult times. And I would like to continue doing this without the distraction caused by this series of events.
“I wish Scottie Scheffler and his family all the best.”
He then added, “PS… Yes, the department lets us buy $80 pants. For those involved, they were indeed ruined. But Scottie, it’s all good. I never thought this would give me the most famous pants in the country for a few weeks. Be careful and be safe.”