LOUISVILLE, Ky. — All prices towards skilled golfer Scottie Scheffler have been dismissed.
Jefferson County Lawyer Mike O’Connell and Scheffler’s lawyer, Steve Romines, appeared in Jefferson County District Court docket and agreed to have the fees dropped.
Scheffler was arrested at Valhalla Golf Membership on Could 17 after a separate incident through which a shuttle bus hit and killed vendor John Mills, who was crossing Shelbyville Highway in Louisville. He was charged with assaulting a police officer, prison mischief, reckless driving and disregarding visitors officers.
Jefferson County Lawyer Mike O’Connell stands exterior of the courthouse after asserting he was dismissing all prices towards professional golfer Scottie Scheffler from an incident exterior of Valhalla Golf Membership on Could 17, 2024. (Spectrum Information 1/Mason Brighton)
In an announcement to the courtroom, O’Connell gave extra particulars of the occasions main as much as Scheffler’s arrest. He stated the Louisville Metro Police Division was attempting to coordinate visitors after the deadly accident. A bus was turning round and all vehicles have been stopped from getting into the golf course. Scheffler was attempting to enter the course on the similar time. O’Connell stated that is when the interplay between Scheffler and the officer occurred.
O’Connell stated he and his workplace have reviewed the proof and interviewed officers and different witnesses earlier than deciding to dismiss the fees.
In courtroom, he stated, “The proof reviewed helps the conclusion that Detective Gillis was involved for public security on the scene when he initiated contact with Mr. Scheffler. Nevertheless, Mr. Scheffler’s motion and the proof surrounding their change through the misunderstanding don’t fulfill the weather of any prison offenses.”
The case was dismissed with prejudice, which suggests the case is completely over.
LMPD detective Bryan Gillis was the officer who arrested Scheffler. He didn’t activate his physique digicam when he encountered Scheffler and arrested the golfer. Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villarroel stated failure to have interaction the physique digicam violated LMPD coverage and stated Gillis was recommended by his supervisor however then added, “We perceive the seriousness of the failure to seize this interplay, which is why our officer has acquired corrective motion for this coverage violation.”
Gwinn-Villarroel didn’t say what corrective motion was taken towards Gillis, solely that it was written up and positioned in his personnel file and that it was “in step with our disciplinary protocol and practices.”
Scheffler wasn’t in courtroom, however Romines spoke to the media after the dismissal. Romines stated he and Scheffler have been ready to maneuver ahead with the case if it wasn’t dismissed.
Scheffler posted an announcement to his Instagram account that stated, “I maintain no unwell will towards Officer Gillis. I want to put this incident behind me and transfer on, and I hope he’ll do the identical.” The professional golfer added that his ideas and prayers have been with Mills and his household.
Scottie Scheffler launched an announcement on his Instagram tales concerning the dismissal of his prices. (Instagram/Scottie Scheffler)
Romines stated, “There are completely grounds for a lawsuit, he [Scheffler] does not wish to be concerned as a result of who pays? The taxpayers. Scottie Scheffler does not need the taxpayers of Lousiville to need to pay him a dime. He needs to maneuver ahead from this case.”
Romines informed reporters his consumer did not know in regards to the deadly accident and was simply attempting to get to the course. He stated, “Scottie Scheffler. You can not discover one individual to say a foul phrase about him when he is within the police automobile after being arrested. He was nonetheless an ideal gentleman. It’s exceptional the restraint and character he evidenced [sic] not solely through the incident, after the incident, as he is being taken downtown and within the press convention that day. We’d like extra Scottie Scheffler’s on the planet.”
Scottie Scheffler’s lawyer, Steve Romines, speaks with reporters after he and Jefferson County Lawyer Mike O’Connell dropped all prices towards the professional golfer. (Spectrum Information 1/Scott Neumann)
Gillis stated in an announcement he and Scheffler agreed there shall be no unwell will shifting ahead; nonetheless, he was dissatisfied with Romines’ declare describing the occasion as a “false arrest.”
“I would be stunned and dissatisfied if Mr. Scheffler really had any half in making these statements,” Gillis stated. “To be clear, I used to be drug by the automobile, I went to the bottom and I acquired seen accidents to my knees and wrist. I’ll get better from it, and will probably be OK.”
“That is the extent of my commentary on the incident. The fact is that there are extra essential issues on the planet proper now than a back-and-forth over this. An individual misplaced his life that day, and a household misplaced a liked one.”
After the fees have been dropped, LMPD launched an announcement on social media, saying the division respects the county lawyer’s choice and the judicial course of. It additionally stated extra proof from the incident could be made public. “Movies and paperwork which have been beforehand unreleased as a result of judicial course of shall be made out there, after applicable redactions are made, through Louisville Metro Authorities’s on-line portal.” The publish shared a hyperlink to the town’s open information request portal.
Scheffler’s file shall be expunged inside 60 days.
