World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler was arrested on Friday morning for allegedly assaulting a police officer and other charges, prompting disbelief and questions about his treatment.
Scottie Scheffler, the world's top-ranked golfer, expressed utter disbelief upon his arrest in Louisville on Friday morning, according to an inmate present during the booking process. The shocking incident unfolded just hours before Scheffler's second-round start at the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Course in Kentucky.
"He kept saying it was bulls--t that he was there," the inmate revealed to TMZ Sports, describing Scheffler's incredulous remarks as he was being cuffed and booked.
Another witness told TMZ Sports that officers cast curious glances towards Scheffler as he was placed into the system, with others wondering aloud about the duration of his detention. Scheffler was booked at around 8:40 a.m. ET, but managed to return to the course in time for his 10:08 a.m. tee time.
The charges against Scheffler include second-degree assault of a police officer (a felony), criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding signals from an officer directing traffic. According to an arrest report, Louisville Detective Bryan Gillis sustained injuries during the incident, which allegedly involved Scheffler driving past a police officer who had been directing traffic and failing to stop when instructed.
Scheffler's arraignment is set for Tuesday, but reports speculate that the charges against him may be dropped. The "No Laying Up" podcast reported that this possibility is being considered.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg stated on Saturday that there was no bodycam footage of the incident between Scheffler and Detective Gillis. "The officer did not have bodycam footage turned on during the incident," Greenberg said, as reported by the Louisville Courier-Journal. "We will release footage that we have ... to my knowledge, we have not yet discovered any video of the initial contact between Officer Gillis and Mr. Scheffler."
Mayor Greenberg did acknowledge the presence of a "fixed camera" across the street from the incident location, but expressed uncertainty about whether Gillis was wearing a body camera. He also declined to comment on the possibility of Scheffler's charges being reduced.
Scheffler issued a statement on Friday, describing the incident as a "big misunderstanding." He stated that he had been following the instructions of police officers amidst a chaotic situation caused by a tragic accident that had occurred earlier. Scheffler asserted that he never intended to disregard any instructions and hoped to move past the incident to focus on golf.
The PGA Championship continued despite the controversy surrounding Scheffler's arrest. Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa shared the lead heading into the final round, while Scheffler remained in contention for the tournament victory.
The incident involving Scheffler has raised questions about the treatment of public figures during police encounters and the use of body cameras by law enforcement. The investigation into the matter is ongoing, and further details are expected to emerge in the coming days.
