This is all they've got on Scottie?
Arresting officer disciplined by Louisville PD; Triple derails Scheffler at Colonial; NCAA debuts at 'new' La Costa; Golf's dampened climate forecast
Videos offer little clarity on incident
Scottie Scheffler’s legal situation didn’t really change on Thursday. As of now, he is still required to appear in a Louisville courtroom for his arraignment on June 3, when he is expected to face four charges — including one felony — for the traffic incident that occurred on May 19 outside of Valhalla Golf Club.
But public perception will undoubtedly be altered after the Louisville mayor and the police chief held a brief news conference Thursday in which they said detective Bryan Gillis has received “corrective action’’ for not turning on his body worn camera last week during his arrest of Scheffler.
Later, the police department released two stationary camera videos of the arrest that will raise questions about the report Gillis filed in which he said he was dragged, injured and his clothing was damaged in trying to stop Scheffler from entering the club.
Pole cam appears to show officer chasing and hitting Scheffler’s car window. (LMPD)
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and LMPD Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said Gillis was being disciplined but that the legal process would proceed as charged. They also did not take questions.
Gillis has received “corrective action’’ for not turning on his body-worn camera last week in his arrest of Scheffler. Gillis “should have turned on his body-worn camera,’’ Gwinn-Villaroel said. “His failure to do so is a failure of policy.’’
The mayor and the chief later released further documentation and two videos from a fixed pole camera and a police car dash cam across the street which do not show some of the issues reported, such as the officer being dragged or his clothing being damaged. No other police personnel rush to his aid. Scheffler’s courtesy vehicle is shown passing a bus and turning into the lot and a police officer chases after the car and bangs on his window, apparently with a flashlight. Scheffler stops the car immediately. Busses block part of the view.
Less than three minutes later, Scheffler is led away in handcuffs and taken to the Jefferson County Jail for processing and booking.
Whatever happened is between 22:25 and 25:30 marks. (LMPD)
Scheffler was hit with four charges — including felony second-degree assault on a police officer — prior to the second round of the PGA Championship. His arraignment is the Monday of Memorial Tournament week, a signature event he committed to play in on Thursday. The U.S. Open is the following week at Pinehurst No 2.
“We have to respect the legal process and that is what we are going to do,’’ Mayor Greenberg said. “We are going to let that play out.’’
CNN reported Thursday that high-ranking police officials in Louisville have privately voiced concerns a felony charge against Scheffler is excessive. Josh Abner, a spokesman for the Jefferson County Attorney’s office, said prosecutors continue to investigate the case.