Scottie Scheffler Cleared of Charges Following Arrest Near PGA Championship

All charges against Scottie Scheffler have been dropped. This comes less than two weeks after the top-ranked golfer was arrested for attempting to drive around a fatal crash while on his way to the PGA Championship. Video footage of the arrest aftermath has also been released.

Scottie Scheffler, a golfer from the United States, was spotted strolling along the course at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky on May 18, 2024. This was during the third round of the 2024 PGA Championship. The image was captured by Michael Reaves and shared by Getty Images.

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Scheffler, who is 27 years old, was facing serious charges including felony second-degree assault on a police officer, as well as lesser charges of third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding signals from officers directing traffic, according to Jefferson County court records.

County Attorney Mike O’Connell stated in court on Wednesday that, after reviewing all the evidence, his office has decided not to pursue the charges against Mr. Scheffler. O’Connell mentioned that the evidence supports Scheffler's claim that the incident was a "big misunderstanding."

Judge Anne Delahanty of Jefferson County District Court dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning it cannot be brought up again. She mentioned that it will be eligible for expungement in 60 days. Scheffler, who resides in Texas, was allowed to miss the recent court hearing that was added to the docket.

Scheffler was initially charged with felony second-degree assault on a police officer for allegedly dragging an officer with his car while arriving at the Valhalla Golf Club on May 17. Additionally, he faced lesser charges of third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding signals from traffic officers, as per Jefferson County court documents. His arraignment was scheduled for June 3.

Jefferson County Attorney Mike O’Connell speaks Wednesday at a hearing in Louisville, Kentucky.

Jefferson County Attorney Mike O’Connell speaks Wednesday at a hearing in Louisville, Kentucky.

WLKY

Scottie Scheffler walks the 18th fairway during the final round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club on May 19, 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Scottie Scheffler walks the 18th fairway during the final round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club on May 19, 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

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Scheffler referred to the incident as a "big misunderstanding," while Romines stated that his client will plead not guilty. According to sources from the police department, some officials thought that the charges should be lowered, as reported by CNN.

On Thursday, the prosecutors' office mentioned that they are currently examining the evidence and conducting interviews with investigators regarding the charges.

The golfer's arrest was a surprising turn of events for the PGA Championship. Scheffler, a new father and highly respected player, was considered the top contender after winning his second Masters title recently. Despite this, he ended up finishing in eighth place, eight shots behind the winner, Xander Schauffele.

After the tournament, Scheffler expressed his gratitude for the support he received from fans, players, and caddies. He mentioned that he tried to put the incident behind him and focus on competing in the game that he loves. The fans showed him extra support, cheering loudly for him throughout the week.

‘A very chaotic situation’

Wednesday’s hearing unfolded as body camera footage surfaced showing an initial conversation Scheffler had with a law enforcement officer following his arrest.

A spokesperson for Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg confirmed that the blurry footage, believed to be filmed at the arrest scene, is authentic. The video shows an officer informing golfer Scheffler of his Miranda rights before questioning him about the incident.

According to Scottie Ellis, the mayor's communications director, the Louisville Metro Police Department wasted no time in making the footage of Scheffler's arrest available to the public. The video was released just days after the incident occurred on May 23rd.

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Tannen MauryUPI/Shutterstock (14432767c) Scottie Scheffler (L) and Xander Schauffele wait to putt on the fourth hole in the second round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia on Friday, April 12, 2024. Masters Golf, Augusta, Georgia, United States - 12 Apr 2024

Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele are seen waiting to putt on the fourth hole during the second round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia on Friday, April 12, 2024. The event took place in the United States and is commonly known as the Masters Golf tournament.

Tannen MauryUPI/Shutterstock

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Xander Schauffele, the winner of the PGA Championship, mentioned that Scottie Scheffler is a good guy and did not have any malicious intentions.

During a press conference where footage was revealed, Mayor Greenberg mentioned that at the request of the Jefferson County Attorney's Office, no additional videos would be made public until the legal process is complete. Ellis expressed disappointment and concern over the unauthorized leak of confidential information before the investigation was finished.

The arrest occurred at 6 a.m. on May 17, as Scheffler was heading to the Valhalla Golf Club for the second round of the golf major. He encountered heavy traffic near the site of a fatal crash.

Earlier that morning, John Mills, a 69-year-old pedestrian who enjoyed working in security at Valhalla, was tragically hit by a bus while crossing the main road to the course. Louisville police spokesperson Dwight Mitchell stated that the police presence around the entrance of the course was increased as a result.

According to ESPN, Scheffler was driving a marked player courtesy vehicle and was stopped by Detective Bryan Gillis, a Louisville police officer in full uniform, while trying to access the course. Detective Gillis tried to give instructions to Scheffler. However, Scheffler refused to comply and drove forward, dragging Detective Gillis to the ground.

The detective was injured during the incident, with pain, swelling, and cuts to his left wrist and knee. He was taken to the hospital for treatment. His uniform pants, which cost about $80, were so damaged that they couldn't be repaired.

During a news conference last week, Louisville Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel announced that the detective had failed to activate his body-worn camera. As a result, corrective action has been taken for this policy violation.

Scottie Scheffler was seen making a shot from a bunker on the first hole at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament that took place on May 19, 2024.

Adam Cairns/USA TODAY Sports/Reuters

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Scottie Scheffler, the world's top golfer, finished the PGA Championship at Valhalla before his court appearance.

Scheffler was taken into custody and charged, but he was released from jail and made it back to the golf course in time for his tee time just four hours later. He mentioned in a statement on his Instagram that he thought he was complying with the police officers' directions that day.

This morning, I was following the instructions given by the police officers. It was a chaotic situation, which is understandable after the tragic accident that happened earlier. There was a big misunderstanding about what I thought I was supposed to do. I want to clarify that I never meant to ignore any of the instructions.

Romines, the attorney for Scheffler, also mentioned that his client did not commit any wrongdoing. He referred to the accounts of witnesses to support this statement.

In an earlier statement, Romines mentioned that the driver immediately stopped when directed to do so and did not harm any officers with his vehicle. The plan is to plead not guilty and address the matter in court if necessary.

Despite starting his day in a jail cell and having his mug shot taken in an orange jumpsuit, Scheffler performed well on May 17, shooting 5-under par and placing near the top of the leaderboard. However, he faced challenges the following day and was unable to make up enough ground to secure a second consecutive major win.

As for his legal issues, the golfer expressed uncertainty about what the future holds. During a press conference on May 19, he mentioned, "I think it's all up in the air."

He added, "I believe I can head home tonight, but I'll have to wait and see once I leave here. I haven't had the opportunity to fully understand the situation outside of the golf course."

This is a developing story and will be updated.

CNN’s Steve Almasy, Gloria Pazmino, Jill Martin, Jack Bantock, Eric Levenson, Ray Sanchez and Andy Rose contributed to this report.

Editor's P/S:

The charges against Scottie Scheffler have been dropped, a surprising turn of events in a case that has captivated the golf world. The initial charges, including felony second-degree assault on a police officer, stemmed from an incident in which Scheffler was arrested for allegedly dragging an officer with his car while attempting to access a fatal crash site.

The evidence presented in court supported Scheffler's claim that the incident was a "big misunderstanding." The Jefferson County Attorney's Office decided not to pursue the charges, and the case was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be brought up again. Scheffler's attorney, Romines, had previously stated that his client did not commit any wrongdoing, and witness accounts corroborated this statement. The golfer himself expressed gratitude for the support he received from fans and fellow players during this difficult time.