Scottie Scheffler’s arrest has raised some concerns among the Louisville Metro Police Department, according to a report.
The world No. 1 was arrested in the early hours of last Friday ahead of his second round of the US PGA Championship at Valhalla in Kentucky, with shocking footage showing him handcuffed as he was taken to jail for failing to continue police orders during the death of a pedestrian. investigation.
The 27-year-old was charged with four counts, including second-degree assault on a police officer, which is a felony.
However, top brass at the Louisville Police Department, which will hold a news conference about the arrest at 11:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, are said to have privately expressed concerns about the charges.
In particular, they fear the felony charge against the two-time Masters champion is “excessive,” according to cnn.
A mugshot of world number one Scottie Scheffler following his arrest by Louisville police on Friday.
During a recent meeting, several police officers reportedly discussed the charges against the PGA Tour star and the group agreed that the felony charge “seems excessive given the details of the case,” a source told the outlet.
It is believed to be the first indication that powers within the police force believe the charges should be reduced.
Scheffler was initially scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday, but the hearing was delayed until June 3.
The police department is scheduled to hold a news conference Thursday morning, when images of the arrest are expected to be released. Meanwhile, Scheffler prepares for the first round of the Charles Schwab Challenge at 1:45 pm ET at Colonial in his home state of Texas.
“The internal investigation is still ongoing,” a Louisville Police Department statement from Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said Tuesday.
‘Any policy violations revealed during the course of the investigation will be appropriately addressed in accordance with LMPD’s disciplinary protocol. The department intends to provide an additional update on the investigation on Thursday, May 23, 2024.
Scheffler was accused of failing to stop for police while trying to enter a traffic stop following a fatal collision between a bus and tournament security staffer John Mills.
The police report said Scheffler failed to comply with instructions and then walked away from an officer, Bryan Gillis, causing him to be dragged by the two-time Masters winner’s car.
The Masters champion is alleged to have walked away from official Bryan Gillis (pictured)
Fans were quick to don ‘Free Scottie’ t-shirts in Valhalla after Friday morning’s crazy events.
Hours later, Scheffler returned to the course and birdied two of his first three holes.
He was taken to a Louisville jail and booked into Jefferson County on four charges; felony second-degree assault on a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, disregarding signals of officers directing traffic.
In a statement last week, Scheffler said the incident was a “huge misunderstanding,” while his attorney Steve Romines said he plans to plead not guilty.
Scheffler was released from jail and arrived at the course in time to play his second round. and miraculously shot a 5-under 66..
However, he fell out of tournament contention with a 73 on Saturday, his first round over par since last August. He closed with a 65, tying for eighth place.
ESPN’s Bob Wischusen, who does play-by-play commentary for the New York Jets during the NFL season, provided new details about the incident earlier this week.
Wischusen was in the van with Jeff Darlington, who first reported the arrest and whose video of Scheffler being taken to a police car has racked up more than 20 million views on social media.
Speaking with Golf.comWischusen claimed Gillis was “pretty, you know, excited” as he walked up to Scheffler’s vehicle and shined his flashlight in the golfer’s face.
Wischusen later claimed that Gillis yelled at Scheffler, saying words like: ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa, who are you?’ Where are you going? Get back in line. You are not allowed to pass through here.
Scheffler has a reputation as a devout Christian and family man who has just started a family.
Gillis was “scolding” Scheffler for passing the vehicle Wischusen and the ESPN crew were in and it was unclear if he was a police officer or tournament security due to their yellow reflective jackets.
After Scheffler moved forward, the situation escalated and Gillis “got very angry chasing the car.”
Wischusen claimed the officer was “running after the car, and maybe tripped and fell.”
He added: ‘I mean, there was some sort of outcropping or median, you know, by the front door. And keep in mind that it was raining. It was 6 in the morning. It was dark.’
When asked about claims that Gillis “joined” the car, Wischusen said: “I could see him stumbling, but I didn’t have a very clear view of how exactly you want to categorize his contact with the car.”
