According to a report, Scottie Scheffler’s arrest has raised some concerns among the Louisville Metro Police Department.
The world number 1 was arrested in the early hours of last Friday morning ahead of his second round of the US PGA Championship at Valhalla in Kentucky, with shocking footage showing him in handcuffs as he was taken to jail for failing to obey police orders had followed during a fatal pedestrian accident. research.
The 27-year-old was charged with four charges, including second-degree assault on a police officer, which is a misdemeanor.
However, top brass within the Louisville Metro Police Department, who will hold a press conference on the arrest Thursday at 11:30 a.m. ET, are said to have privately expressed concerns about the allegations.
They mainly fear that the charges against the two-time Masters champion are ‘excessive’, the organization said CNN.
A mugshot of world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler after his arrest by Louisville police on Friday
At a recent meeting, multiple law enforcement officials reportedly discussed the charges against the PGA Tour star, with the group agreeing that the misdemeanor charge “seems excessive given the details of the case,” a source told the station.
This is believed to be the first indication of powers within the police force that charges should be reduced.
Scheffler was initially scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday, but the hearing has been postponed until June 3.
The police department will hold a news conference Thursday morning, after which images of the arrest are expected to be released. Meanwhile, Scheffler is gearing up for the first round of the Charles Schwab Challenge at 1:45 PM ET at Colonial in his home state of Texas.
“The internal investigation is still ongoing,” said a statement from the Louisville Police Department Tuesday from Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel.
“Any policy violations uncovered during the course of the investigation will be appropriately addressed according to LMPD disciplinary protocol. The department intends to provide an additional update on the investigation on Thursday, May 23, 2024.”
Scheffler was accused of failing to stop for police as he tried to enter as they were directing traffic following a fatal collision between a bus and a member of the tournament’s security staff, John Mills.
According to the police report, Scheffler ignored instructions and then drove away from an officer, Bryan Gillis, causing him to be dragged by the two-time Masters winner’s car.
The Masters champion is said to have driven away from officer Bryan Gillis (photo)
Fans were quick to don “Free Scottie” t-shirts in Valhalla after Friday morning’s crazy events
Hours later, Scheffler was back on the course, birdieing two of his first three holes
He was taken to a Louisville jail and booked in Jefferson County on four charges; felony: second-degree assault on a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, disregarding signals from officers directing traffic.
In a statement last week, Scheffler said the incident was a “major misunderstanding,” while his attorney Steve Romines said he plans to plead not guilty.
Scheffler was released from jail and made it to the court in time to play his second round and miraculously shot a five under 66.
However, on Saturday he fell out of contention for the tournament with a 73 – his first round above par since last August. He closed with a 65 and tied for eighth place.
ESPN’s Bob Wischusen, who provides play-by-play commentary for the New York Jets during the NFL season, provided new details about the incident earlier this week.
Wischusen was in the van with Jeff Darlington, who first reported the arrest and whose video of Scheffler being led away in a police car has been viewed more than 20 million times on social media.
In conversation with Golf.comWischusen claimed Gillis was “pretty, you know, excited” as he walked up to Scheffler’s car and shone his flashlight in the golfer’s face.
Wischusen then claimed that Gillis yelled at Scheffler and said words to the effect of, “Whoa, whoa, whoa, who are you? Where are you going? Get back in line. You can’t get through this.’
Scheffler has a reputation as a devout Christian, and a family man who has just started a family
Gillis “berated” Scheffler for passing the vehicle Wischusen and the ESPN crew were in and it was unclear whether he was a police officer or tournament security due to their yellow reflective jackets.
After Scheffler drove forward, the situation escalated and Gillis “became very angry as he chased the car.”
Wischusen claimed the officer “kind of ran alongside as he chased the car, and he may have tripped and fell.”
He added, “I mean, there was kind of a spur or median, you know, at the front gate. And keep in mind that it was raining. It was 6 o’clock in the morning. It was dark.’
Asked about the claims that Gillis had “attached himself” to the car, Wischusen said: “I saw him stumble, but I didn’t have a clear idea of how exactly you want to categorize his contact with the car.”