All charges against the world’s No. 1-ranked golfer Scottie Scheffler have been dropped, after the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office in Louisville, Kentucky, said it would not pursue the case that stemmed from a traffic incident outside the PGA Championship earlier this month.
ESPN reported that during a court hearing Wednesday, Jefferson County Attorney Mike O’Connell asked for the charges to be dismissed with prejudice (meaning they can’t be filed again in the future): “Based upon the totality of the evidence, my office cannot move forward in the prosecution of the charges filed against Mr. Scheffler. Mr. Scheffler’s characterization that this was a ‘big misunderstanding’ is corroborated by the evidence. The evidence we reviewed supports the conclusion that Detective [Bryan] Gillis was concerned for public safety at the scene when he initiated contact with Mr. Scheffler. However, Mr. Scheffler’s actions and the evidence surrounding their exchange during this misunderstanding do not satisfy the elements of any criminal offenses.”
Scheffler was arrested May 17 outside of Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville during the PGA Championship, and accused of failing to follow orders from police who were investigating a fatal accident outside the club earlier that morning, involving a shuttle bus that struck and killed Louisville resident John Mills, who was working for one of the vendors at the tournament, officials said. Police had alleged that Scheffler dragged Detective Bryan Gillis, who was trying to stop the golfer’s car, at about 6 a.m. Scheffler insisted, however, he was following police directions on how to enter the club ahead of that day’s second-round action, and said his arrest was due to a “big misunderstanding.”
The golfer was handcuffed that day and booked into custody on allegations of second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding signals from officers directing traffic. Scheffler was released later that morning, and even made his tee time about 2 1/2 hours after, shooting 5-under 66, his second best day of his four in Louisville, on his way to an eighth-place finish.
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