A Louisville, Kentucky, police detective violated department policy by not activating his body camera during his controversial arrest of Scottie Scheffler last week, according to Louisville Metro Police Department Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel.
Detective Bryan Gillis failed to turn on his body-worn camera during the incident when the top-ranked golfer was attempting to drive into the PGA Championship venue. As a result, Gillis has received corrective action due to the seriousness of the policy violation, Gwinn-Villaroel said at a press conference.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg announced the release of video footage from the incident, captured by a pole camera and a police car dashboard camera. The footage shows Gillis running after Scheffler’s car as it slowly turns from behind several large vehicles, with the detective striking the golfer’s car. Scheffler immediately stopped, and officers pulled him out and placed him in handcuffs within about 50 seconds.
The footage does not capture the moments before the incident, which Gillis claimed included him being dragged by Scheffler’s car. Greenberg emphasized the importance of activating body-worn cameras to ensure transparency and accountability.
Louisville police policy mandates that officers maintain their body-worn cameras in a constant state of operational readiness and activate them immediately before engaging in law enforcement activities or encounters.
Some legal analysts had anticipated that the press conference might announce the reduction of felony charges against Scheffler, but neither the mayor nor the police chief commented on the status of the case, aside from saying they would not release any additional information beyond the video footage. “We have to respect the legal process, and that’s what we are going to do,” Greenberg said.
Scheffler’s lawyer, Steven Romines, maintained that Scheffler did nothing wrong and expressed confidence in either trying the case or having it dismissed. Romines stated, “All the evidence that continues to come out just continues to support what Scottie said all along: it was just a chaotic situation and miscommunication, and he didn’t do anything wrong.”
Louisville police have faced significant scrutiny in the past, particularly following the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor in March 2020 during the execution of a no-knock warrant. The incident, along with the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer two months later, sparked nationwide protests over excessive use of force by police.
The Department of Justice released a report in March 2023 detailing a pattern of conduct by the Louisville police department, including the use of excessive force, unlawful execution of search warrants, unlawful stops and searches, and discrimination against Black people in its enforcement activities.
Scheffler, who is white, faces charges including second-degree assault on a police officer, third-degree misdemeanor criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding signals from an officer directing traffic. His arrest occurred as police were responding to the death of a 69-year-old man who was killed by a shuttle bus outside the Valhalla Golf Club, the site of the PGA Championship last week.
Police reported that Scheffler drove on the median of a road outside the golf club and failed to comply with Gillis’ order to stop his vehicle. The police report stated that Scheffler’s car accelerated forward, dragging Gillis to the ground. Gillis sustained pain, swelling, and abrasions to his left wrist and knee and was taken to a hospital.
Scheffler was released without bail within hours and returned to the club to tee off in time for the second round of the tournament. He described his arrest as a “big misunderstanding,” stating on Instagram that he was following police directions during a chaotic situation and never intended to disregard any instructions.
Scheffler’s lawyer, Romines, asserted that the golfer was told by another officer to drive around other vehicles and that multiple eyewitnesses confirmed he did nothing wrong. Scheffler is due to be arraigned on June 3 and plans to plead not guilty.
Scheffler is currently competing in the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas.
A Louisville, Kentucky, police detective violated department policy by not activating his body camera during his controversial arrest of Scottie Scheffler last week, according to Louisville Metro Police Department Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel.
Detective Bryan Gillis failed to turn on his body-worn camera during the incident when the top-ranked golfer was attempting to drive into the PGA Championship venue. As a result, Gillis has received corrective action due to the seriousness of the policy violation, Gwinn-Villaroel said at a press conference.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg announced the release of video footage from the incident, captured by a pole camera and a police car dashboard camera. The footage shows Gillis running after Scheffler’s car as it slowly turns from behind several large vehicles, with the detective striking the golfer’s car. Scheffler immediately stopped, and officers pulled him out and placed him in handcuffs within about 50 seconds.
The footage does not capture the moments before the incident, which Gillis claimed included him being dragged by Scheffler’s car. Greenberg emphasized the importance of activating body-worn cameras to ensure transparency and accountability.
Louisville police policy mandates that officers maintain their body-worn cameras in a constant state of operational readiness and activate them immediately before engaging in law enforcement activities or encounters.
Some legal analysts had anticipated that the press conference might announce the reduction of felony charges against Scheffler, but neither the mayor nor the police chief commented on the status of the case, aside from saying they would not release any additional information beyond the video footage. “We have to respect the legal process, and that’s what we are going to do,” Greenberg said.
Scheffler’s lawyer, Steven Romines, maintained that Scheffler did nothing wrong and expressed confidence in either trying the case or having it dismissed. Romines stated, “All the evidence that continues to come out just continues to support what Scottie said all along: it was just a chaotic situation and miscommunication, and he didn’t do anything wrong.”
Louisville police have faced significant scrutiny in the past, particularly following the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor in March 2020 during the execution of a no-knock warrant. The incident, along with the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer two months later, sparked nationwide protests over excessive use of force by police.
The Department of Justice released a report in March 2023 detailing a pattern of conduct by the Louisville police department, including the use of excessive force, unlawful execution of search warrants, unlawful stops and searches, and discrimination against Black people in its enforcement activities.
Scheffler, who is white, faces charges including second-degree assault on a police officer, third-degree misdemeanor criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding signals from an officer directing traffic. His arrest occurred as police were responding to the death of a 69-year-old man who was killed by a shuttle bus outside the Valhalla Golf Club, the site of the PGA Championship last week.
Police reported that Scheffler drove on the median of a road outside the golf club and failed to comply with Gillis’ order to stop his vehicle. The police report stated that Scheffler’s car accelerated forward, dragging Gillis to the ground. Gillis sustained pain, swelling, and abrasions to his left wrist and knee and was taken to a hospital.
Scheffler was released without bail within hours and returned to the club to tee off in time for the second round of the tournament. He described his arrest as a “big misunderstanding,” stating on Instagram that he was following police directions during a chaotic situation and never intended to disregard any instructions.
Scheffler’s lawyer, Romines, asserted that the golfer was told by another officer to drive around other vehicles and that multiple eyewitnesses confirmed he did nothing wrong. Scheffler is due to be arraigned on June 3 and plans to plead not guilty.
Scheffler is currently competing in the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas.
