Charges Dropped: Scottie Scheffler Cleared in PGA Traffic Incident
The criminal charges against world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler, following a traffic incident at the PGA Championship on May 17, have been officially dropped. Jefferson County Attorney Mike O’Connell addressed the court on Wednesday, confirming the decision to dismiss the case.
“Based on the totality of the evidence, my office cannot move forward in the prosecution of the charges filed against Mr. Scheffler,” O’Connell stated. “The evidence corroborates Scheffler’s claim that this was ‘a big misunderstanding.’ Detective Gillis was concerned for public safety, but Scheffler’s actions do not constitute any criminal offenses. Therefore, I move to dismiss all charges with prejudice.”
Scheffler, arrested on May 17 outside Valhalla Golf Club, faced charges including second-degree assault of a police officer, criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding traffic signals. The arrest followed an alleged incident where Scheffler reportedly drove past an officer, resulting in Detective Bryan Gillis being dragged by the car.
Scheffler’s attorney, Steve Romines, responded in court, “We accept the county’s motion and have no objection.” He emphasized that Scheffler was following another officer’s directions and never assaulted anyone.
Scheffler released a statement, expressing relief and a desire to move forward. “I hold no ill will toward Officer Gillis. This was a severe miscommunication. I appreciate the support and want to remember the real tragedy of May 17. My thoughts and prayers are with John Mills and his family.”
The incident caused significant disruption to Scheffler’s participation in the tournament. Despite the chaotic situation, he managed to return to Valhalla and played impressively, although the stress impacted his performance in subsequent rounds.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg noted that Gillis did not activate his body camera during the incident, a violation of department policy. This lack of video evidence complicated the case, leaving many details unclear.
Romines confirmed that Scheffler will not pursue civil charges against the police, preferring to leave the matter behind. Scheffler is set to compete in the Memorial Tournament starting June 6, with the U.S. Open at Pinehurst following soon after.