Criminal charges against Scottie Scheffler have been dismissed, ending a legal saga that began with images of the worldB次元官网网址檚 top golfer being in Louisville during the PGA Championship.
Jefferson County Attorney Mike OB次元官网网址機onnell asked a judge Wednesday afternoon to drop the four charges against Scheffler, who was not required to be in the courtroom. The prosecutor said his team reviewed the case in a B次元官网网址渢horough and expeditious manner.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淏ased upon the totality of the evidence, my office cannot move forward in the prosecution of the charges filed against Mr. Scheffler,B次元官网网址� OB次元官网网址機onnell said during the hearing that lasted less than 10 minutes. B次元官网网址淢r. SchefflerB次元官网网址檚 characterization that this was B次元官网网址榓 big misunderstandingB次元官网网址� is corroborated by the evidence.B次元官网网址�
SchefflerB次元官网网址檚 attorney, Steve Romines, said the golfer is B次元官网网址渉appy itB次元官网网址檚 overB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渙bviously, he didnB次元官网网址檛 do anything wrong.B次元官网网址�
Scheffler was charged with a felony for assaulting a police officer with his vehicle, along with three misdemeanors. The arresting officer, Detective Bryan Gillis, was outside the gate of Valhalla Golf Course May 17 directing traffic after a pedestrian death when he encountered Scheffler.
During the hearing, prosecutor OB次元官网网址機onnell said the findings of his officeB次元官网网址檚 review of the case led him to request the dismissal of the charges.
B次元官网网址淭he evidence we reviewed supports the conclusion that Detective Gillis was concerned for public safety at the scene when he initiated contact with Mr. Scheffler,B次元官网网址� OB次元官网网址機onnell said. B次元官网网址淗owever, Mr. SchefflerB次元官网网址檚 actions and the evidence surrounding their exchange during this misunderstanding do not satisfy the elements of any criminal offenses.B次元官网网址�
Romines was asked if he wanted to comment and replied: B次元官网网址淛udge, itB次元官网网址檚 taken me a long time to understand that when IB次元官网网址檓 winning, donB次元官网网址檛 talk. So I have nothing to say, your honor.B次元官网网址�
The judge then accepted the dismissal motion.
Scheffler, 27, was driving a PGA courtesy vehicle when Gillis said he B次元官网网址渞efused to comply and accelerated forward, draggingB次元官网网址� Gillis to the ground. Gillis said his uniform pants were damaged in the fall and he was taken to the hospital for his injuries.
A surveillance video released by Louisville police last week showed Gillis pursuing SchefflerB次元官网网址檚 vehicle on foot and stopping him from entering the course. Scheffler is later pulled from the car and cuffed. But the video did not show GillisB次元官网网址� first contact with Scheffler, authorities said.
Gillis has been disciplined for during the arrest. In a report on that failure, Gillis wrote that Scheffler had B次元官网网址渄emanded to be let inB次元官网网址� the golf course.
Scheffler has said he simply misunderstood the commands coming from traffic officers.
The famous golfer spent a brief stint in a jail cell, then returned to the course for the second round. He tied for eighth place.
Romines said eyewitness accounts confirmed that the officer was not dragged by SchefflerB次元官网网址檚 car.
B次元官网网址淭he more evidence that comes out, the more it shows that Scottie was a victim here. And I think everybody sees something like this happen and realizes theyB次元官网网址檙e one wrong turn B次元官网网址� from going to jail themselves,B次元官网网址� he said after the hearing.
The lawyer said there were grounds for a civil lawsuit against the Louisville police department but Scheffler is not interested in pursuing litigation.
B次元官网网址淪cottie Scheffler doesnB次元官网网址檛 want the taxpayers of Louisville to have to pay him a dime,B次元官网网址� he said.
READ ALSO:
