We are now getting more details into the early morning arrest of the No. 1 golfer in the world, Scottie Scheffler.
Scottie Scheffler was on his way to Valhalla Golf Course to play in the second round of the PGA Championship when the Louisville Police Department pulled him over.
There had been a fatal accident to cause the death of a pedestrian and that is why the traffic was so heavy Friday morning. According to Scheffler, he had complied with the police and showed his ID as he was told but that wasn’t enough. The incident escalated quickly and Scheffler was arrested and booked on four charges, then later released.
But according to the police, it was more than non-compliance that got Scheffler into trouble. According to their reports, he dragged a police officer who tried to arrest him causing him injuries.
“The arresting officer, Bryan Gillis, says that Scheffler disobeyed his orders and then dragged him to the ground with his car causing injuries to the officer and his clothing.”
From the Scottie Scheffler police report: the arresting officer, Bryan Gillis, says that Scheffler disobeyed his orders and then dragged him to the ground with his car causing injuries to the officer and his clothing. pic.twitter.com/oh5eOT0ZuY
— Michael Eaves (@michaeleaves) May 17, 2024
Scheffler also released a statement explaining his side of the incident.
“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.”
This is not the first time the Louisville Police Department has been involved in a misunderstanding. This is the same police department that broke into Breonna Taylor’s apartment in 2020 and shot her to death. The officers involved claim they knocked on Taylor’s door before they started shooting but witnesses said that wasn’t true.
Several of the officers involved in the shooting were federally charged with conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and civil rights violations for conspiring to mislead the judge who approved the search warrant and then covering it up.
This incident is yet potentially another black eye for the Louisville Police Department for their over-aggressiveness turning a bad situation into something worse. However, if what the police are charging Scheffler is true, this is not a good look for him as well.
Another thing that Scheffler may have going against him is eyewitnesses to the account. Even though an ESPN reporter caught some of the incident on his camera phone, he may not have seen what happened before Scheffler was arrested.
Scheffler may also have to deal with the consequences of the punishment the PGA may give him if these charges stick but so far, they haven’t said anything about what took place with him. Either way, this is not a good look for the PGA or the Louisville Police Department and as more details come in, this will only become worse for both parties involved.
Scheffler seems to be unfazed so far with the start of the second round as birdied two of his first three holes.
