Scottie Scheffler and his attorney celebrated on Wednesday news that prosecutors in Kentucky were dropping all charges against the world’s No.1-ranked golfer.
The four criminal charges against Scheffler, including a felony assault charge, were all dropped after Jefferson County (KY) Attorney Mike O’Connell said that his office cannot move forward with the prosecution and that Scheffler’s account of the incident — that it was a “big misunderstanding” — was “corroborated by the evidence.”
The 27-year-old golfer was arrested on May 17 after he attempted to drive into the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, to prepare for the second round of the PGA Championship. A fatal accident involving a pedestrian had stopped traffic, preventing Scheffler and other golfers from getting to the golf club’s entrance, but Scheffler said he was told by a police officer to drive “the opposite way with the traffic” to get into the golf club.
Moments later, another officer with the Louisville Police Department, Detective Bryan Gillis, reportedly told Scheffler to stop his vehicle. Scheffler was accused of failing to come to a stop, and police claimed the golfer “dragged” Gillis when he continued to drive forward. After Scheffler stopped his car, the golfer was arrested and taken to jail where he was charged with second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding traffic signals from an officer directing traffic.
Scheffler responded to the news in a statement saying that it was a “misfortunate understanding” and that he held no ill will toward the arresting officer.
“I wish to put this incident behind me and move on, and I hope he will do the same,” Scheffler said. “Police officers have a difficult job and I hold them in high regard. This was a severe miscommunication in a chaotic situation.”
Scheffler said that while he appreciated all the support he’s received during this time, he wants everyone to remember “the real tragedy of May 17,” which was the death of John Mills.
“My thoughts and prayers continue to be with John Mills and his family,” he added.
Scheffler’s attorney Steve Romines said that he was happy with the outcome of the case and that there were grounds to file a lawsuit, but Scheffler did not want to escalate matters and did not want Louisville taxpayers to pay him if he won.
“I think everybody sees something like this happen and realizes they’re one wrong turn or running into the wrong person away from going to jail themselves,” Romines said. “That’s why you don’t talk to the police because they are going to try and put words in your mouth and that’s exactly what they did.”
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