Criminal charges have been dropped against Scottie Scheffler, ending a legal saga that began with images of the world’s top male golfer being arrested and handcuffed in Louisville, Kentucky, as he drove to the PGA Championship.
Jefferson County Attorney Mike O’Connell said during a court hearing Wednesday that prosecutors could not move forward with a case stemming from Scheffler’s May 17 arrest.
“Based upon the totality of the evidence, my office can not move forward in the prosecution of the charges filed against Mr. Scheffler,” O’Connell said. “Mr. Scheffler’s characterization that this was a ‘big misunderstanding’ is corroborated by the evidence. The evidence we reviewed supports the conclusion that Detective [Brian] 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 not required to be in the courtroom for the hearing.
Scheffler, 27, had been arrested prior to the second round of the PGA Championship after he allegedly dragged a police officer with his car. Scheffler had been trying to drive around traffic outside Valhalla Golf Club that had been stopped after a man was struck and killed by a shuttle bus earlier that morning.
He had faced multiple charges, including felony second-degree assault of a police officer.
Det. Bryan Gillis, the officer who arrested Scheffler, was subjected to “corrective action” for violating Louisville Metro Police Department procedures by not having his bodycam video recorder during the incident.
Scheffler’s attorney, Steve Romines, had previously said that Scheffler would plead not guilty and would not accept a plea deal.
After being released from jail, Scheffler returned to the PGA Championship and shot a second-round 5-under 66. A third-round 73 marred his tournament, and he finished tied for eighth at 13-under par.
Information from ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, The Associated Press and Field Level Media was used in this report.