A Kentucky police officer is facing “corrective action” for not activating his body-worn camera during the arrest of top-ranked golfer Scottie Scheffler outside the PGA Championship, authorities announced on Thursday.
Louisville officials stated in a news conference that there is no video footage of the initial encounter last Friday between Scheffler and Louisville Detective Bryan Gillis at Valhalla Golf Club. According to Gillis’s report, Scheffler “demanded to be let in and proceeded forward … I was dragged/knocked down by the driver.”
Authorities released a video from a street pole camera showing Scheffler’s SUV turning into the club entrance. An officer runs toward the vehicle and appears to strike it as it stops. However, the camera is too distant to capture detailed interactions. Another released video from a police vehicle dashcam shows Scheffler in handcuffs being escorted by officers.
The local prosecutor has requested withholding any additional video or evidence until the legal process concludes, the mayor said.
Scheffler was arrested on charges of injuring Gillis and disobeying commands. Scheffler contends the incident resulted from a misunderstanding and that he never intended to disregard instructions.
Scheffler’s attorney, Steve Romines, reaffirmed his client’s innocence. “Our position is the same as it was last Friday, Scottie Scheffler didn’t do anything wrong, we’re not interested in settling the case,” Romines said. “We’ll either try it or it will be dismissed.”
Louisville Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel emphasized that officers are expected to keep their body-worn cameras in a “constant state of operational readiness.” She stated, “Detective Gillis should have turned on his body-worn camera but did not,” which violates LMPD policy on uniforms and equipment.
An internal investigation revealed that Gillis should have had his camera on standby while directing traffic before his encounter with Scheffler. Gillis has since undergone “corrective action” for the policy violation, including completing a “failure to record” form, being counseled by a superior, and a performance observation.
Gillis reported being called to a fatal accident at Valhalla when he saw Scheffler’s vehicle “traveling in the opposing lanes coming at me.” He wrote that Scheffler “refused to comply and accelerated forward, dragging” him to the ground, resulting in damaged uniform pants and hospital treatment for his injuries.
Scheffler, who was driving to Valhalla before dawn for the tournament’s second round, was taken to jail but returned to the course in time for his 10:08 a.m. tee time. He finished the tournament tied for eighth place, earning approximately $520,000.
Scheffler is set to return to Louisville on June 3 to be arraigned on four charges, including second-degree felony assault of a police officer.
Louisville police’s current body camera policy was implemented in 2020 after officers shot and killed Breonna Taylor during a botched drug raid. The new policy mandates that all officers activate their cameras “prior to engaging in all law enforcement activities and encounters.” The former police chief was fired after another fatal shooting where officers failed to activate their body cameras.
