Video of Scottie Scheffler’s arrest outside PGA Championship expected to be released this week | Detailed

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Video of the encounter between professional golfer Scottie Scheffler and Louisville police outside Valhalla Golf Club will be released this week, Mayor Craig Greenberg told reporters Tuesday.

Footage from a pole camera across from the club entrance on Shelbyville Road appears to be the only video of the incident that led to Scheffler’s arrest Friday morning on the second day of the PGA Championship. Police said over the weekend that there was no officer body-worn camera footage of the initial interaction.

Greenberg said he viewed the recording but declined to describe it.

“I’m going to let the video speak for itself,” he said during a news conference in the Paristown Pointe neighborhood. “It shows Mr. Scheffler’s arrest, and I’ll let others come to their own conclusions.”

Greenberg said he has not had any discussions about the case with Jefferson County Attorney Mike O’Connell, whose office is leading the prosecution. “I have no plans to do that,” he said. “We have to let the legal process play out as it is. And again, I’m confident that on June 3, all parties can move forward.”

However, the mayor did not respond when asked whether members of his administration had had conversations with O’Connell or his office or whether he had discussed the case with anyone in the district attorney’s office.

Greenberg referred other questions to police, including his understanding of LMPD policy on body cameras for traffic officers and the nature of the investigation into the officer who arrested Scheffler, Detective Bryan Gillis.

However, the mayor said that while he understands why Gillis’ body camera may have been “not turned on during the initial contact between Officer Gillis and Mr. Scheffler, I still have questions as to why it was not turned on during Mr. Scheffler’s arrest.”

He said he expected Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel “to comment this week.”

LMPD spokesman Dwight Mitchell declined to say what kind of investigation has been launched or will take place. He also did not answer a question about the bodycam policy.

“We will advise and notify the media when appropriate and plans are finalized,” Mitchell said in an emailed response to questions.

Hours later, LMPD released a statement from Gwinn-Villaroel saying an internal investigation was underway.

“Any policy violations uncovered during the course of the investigation will be appropriately addressed in accordance with LMPD’s disciplinary protocol. The department intends to provide an additional update on the investigation on Thursday, May 23, 2024.”

According to LMPD’s Body Worn Camera (BWC) policy, officers must “immediately activate their BWC into recording mode before engaging in any law enforcement activity or encounter.”

The policy also states: “If a member is involved in a sudden and unforeseen incident where urgent safety concerns prevent the immediate activation of his/her BWC, he/she will activate the BWC at the first opportunity when it is safe to do so. “To capture the immediate consequences of the situation.”

Greenberg said Saturday it was unclear whether Gillis did not have a body camera or had not activated it.

Scheffler, the world’s top golfer and reigning Masters champion, was arrested last Friday and charged with aggravated assault on a police officer outside Jefferson County’s eastern golf course. He was booked into jail downtown around 7:30 a.m. after he allegedly refused to stop near the scene of a fatal collision.

John Mills, of Crestwood, was crossing Shelbyville Road about 5 a.m. to work as a security guard in Valhalla when a shuttle bus struck and killed him, authorities said. He was 69.

Steve Romines, Scheffler’s attorney, said an officer told the golfer to enter the club property but that Gillis was unaware of the instruction. Police accuse Scheffler of disobeying Gillis’ instructions by accelerating and knocking the detective to the ground.

Gillis was taken to the hospital with pain, swelling and abrasions to his left knee and wrist. His uniform pants, estimated to have cost $80, were “irreparably damaged,” according to the arrest report.

Several witnesses said Gillis tried to hold on to Scheffler’s vehicle as it slowly moved forward. “Scottie didn’t know what was going on,” Romines said.

The police report says Gillis was wearing “full LMPD uniform and a high-visibility yellow reflective rain jacket” when he stopped Scheffler and attempted to give him directions.

Scheffler was initially scheduled to be arraigned on the charges on Tuesday. On Monday, during an impromptu hearing in Jefferson Circuit Court, District Attorney O’Connell objected to a two-week delay in the arraignment, which is now set for June 3.

O’Connell told Judge Anne Delahanty that a delay would amount to special treatment for Scheffler. An obviously angry Romines argued that trials were routinely delayed.

Delahanty decided that a delay was acceptable because the first arraignment was scheduled before Romines could review his schedule.

The judge also ruled that Scheffler must be present at the arraignment, which is generally required in criminal proceedings.

On Tuesday morning, Greenberg described Romine’s request as a “routine request” but declined to say whether or not he agreed with O’Connell’s actions.

This story may be updated.

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