Scottie Scheffler’s legal professional, Steve Romines, exterior the Jefferson County Hall of Justice on Wednesday.
getty photos
The weirdest golf story of our time seemingly concluded Wednesday with phrase from a Louisville courthouse that the 4 expenses (three misdemeanors, one felony) leveled towards the world’s top-ranked male golfer and reigning Masters champion, Scottie Scheffler, had been dismissed. The lead legal professional for the prosecution, Mike O’Connell, had discovered no possible trigger in his investigation of the occasions that led to Scheffler’s May 17 arrest and thus moved that the fees be dropped.
“Mr. Scheffler’s characterization that this was, quote, ‘A big misunderstanding,’ close quote, is corroborated by the evidence,” O’Connell informed a decide on the Jefferson County Hall of Justice.
To borrow from the Grateful Dead, what a protracted, unusual 12 days it’s been.
This mind-boggling episode, as for those who want reminding, started on a Friday morning earlier this month within the pre-dawn darkness exterior Valhalla Golf Club, web site of the PGA Championship. Scheffler, who was making an attempt to flee a snarl of site visitors simply exterior the gates, pulled into an adjoining lane the place he was met by a police officer in a fluorescent vest who was none to impressed by Scheffler’s maneuvering. After a short interplay with the officer, Scheffler pulled away towards the membership entrance.
What occurred subsequent stays a thriller. The police report of the incident says that Det. Bryan Gillis was “dragged” by Scheffler’s SUV, resulting in accidents to his left wrist and knee, and, in a element that grew to become instant social-media catnip, injury to his uniform pants “valued at approximately $80;” eyewitnesses say the officer was both “attached” to or operating alongside the car and that he may need tripped; Scheffler, on this matter, hasn’t mentioned a lot in any respect. Video proof can also be inconclusive: Gillis had not activated his physique digicam, and security-camera footage of the scene was obscured by a bus.
Gillis arrested Scheffler, who later that morning was taken to the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections and charged with three driving-related misdemeanors and second-degree assault of a police officer, which is a felony. On Wednesday of this week, all of the fees had been dropped with prejudice, that means they can’t be filed once more. Case closed.
After the court docket listening to, which Scheffler didn’t attend, Scheffler’s legal professional, Steve Romines, conducted a press conference exterior the courthouse that was as a lot a victory lap because it was an info obtain. After reiterating that his consumer was able to go to trial if the fees had not been dropped, Romines added that Scheffler had no real interest in suing the Louisville Metro Police Department as a result of he “wants to move on” and likewise wouldn’t wish to stick Louisville taxpayers with the invoice.
“Scottie Scheffler, you cannot find one person to say a bad word about him,” Romines gushed. “When he’s in a police car after being falsely arrested, he is still a perfect gentleman.”
As it occurred, hours earlier than the fees had been dismissed, a brand new video was making the rounds on social media of Scheffler handcuffed within the again of the police automotive. The footage is from the physique cam of one other officer with whom Scheffler had spoken that morning.
“I did not know he was a police officer,” Scheffler says of Gillis. “I thought he was one of those security guards, I was mistaken. And I was pulling by, he—”
‘Panic kind of set in’: New Scottie Scheffler arrest video provides additional context
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“Wait, stop right there,” the officer interjects. “Why does that matter if he’s a security guard or a police officer?”
Scheffler: “Because—”
Officer: “Somebody’s telling you to stop.”
Scheffler: “You’re right. I should have stopped. I did get a little impatient because I’m quite late for my tee time. And as he was reaching into the car, he grabbed my shoulder and hit me, like—”
Officer: “Trying to get you to stop, right?”
Scheffler: “Yes.”
Officer: “OK.”
Scheffler: “It seemed to be a little bit over aggressive because the entrance was open. And I pulled [up] a little bit because I was afraid. I thought he was going to start hitting me and I didn’t know who he was. He didn’t tell me he was a police officer. All I saw was the yellow jacket. I didn’t know what he was doing.”
Romines, in his Wednesday press convention, was requested about Scheffler’s remarks from the again of the automotive and whether or not they contradicted Romines’ competition that Scheffler was innocent.
“The statements that Scottie made after the arrest don’t seem to fully align with what you are saying right now,” mentioned Natalia Martinez, a reporter from Wave 3, Louisville’s NBC affiliate. “He admits that he got impatient and went too far.”
Romines heatedly replied: “No, right here’s what occurred. He is being interrogated after essentially the most traumatic state of affairs of his life and an officer is asking him main questions attempting to get him to agree with him. And that’s why you don’t discuss to police, as a result of they will try to put phrases in your mouth.
“They are trying to get him to confess to something he didn’t do, and the video evidence shows he didn’t do it.”
Scheffler’s personal phrases, in a press release launched Wednesday, struck a gentler tone than his lawyer’s.
“As I stated previously, this was an unfortunate misunderstanding,” Scheffler’s assertion reads. “I hold no ill will toward Officer Gillis. I wish to put this incident behind me and move on, and I hope he will do the same. Police officers have a difficult job and I hold them in high regard. This was a severe miscommunication in a chaotic situation.”
Gillis additionally launched a press release, seemingly on his personal volition given the absence of police division branding on the letterhead. The high of the one-page observe, which Gillis shared with Wave 3, consists of solely the date and FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.
“Mr. Scheffler and I both agree there will be no ill will over this going forward,” Gillis wrote. “Instead of giving a negative public reaction, he chose to speak with dignity, humility and respect. My family and I appreciate that.”
Gillis then expressed his remorse for Romines’ courthouse remarks.
“It was unfortunate and disturbing to hear Steve Romines’ commentary today claiming that a ‘false arrest’ was made and for him to challenge my honesty and integrity. I’d be surprised and disappointed if Mr. Scheffler actually had any part in making those statements. To be clear, I was drug by the car, I went to the ground, and received visible injuries to my knees and wrist. I’m going to recover from it, and it will be okay. This is the extent of my commentary on the incident.”
Only it wasn’t.
In what is maybe a becoming bookend to the wild and unpredictable occasions of the final practically two weeks, Gillis added a shocking and surreal postscript to the top of his assertion.
“Yes, the department has us buying freaking $80 pants,” he wrote, tongue firmly in cheek. “To those concerned, they were indeed ruined. But Scottie, it’s all good. I never would’ve guessed I’d have the most famous pair of pants in the country for a few weeks because of this. Take care and be safe. – Bryan”
