The Louisville Metro Police Department is scrutinizing its procedures following the arrest of top golfer Scottie Scheffler. Concerns have been raised about whether adequate protocols were followed, especially regarding body camera usage during the incident.
The investigation launched by the Louisville Metro Police Department seeks to determine if officers adhered to proper protocols when Scottie Scheffler was taken into custody last week before the second round of the PGA Championship. “The internal investigation is still ongoing. Any policy violations that are revealed through the course of the investigation will be appropriately addressed according to LMPD’s disciplinary protocol. The department intends to provide an additional update on the investigation on Thursday, May 23, 2024,” stated Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel.
Mayor Craig Greenberg also addressed the media on Tuesday, indicating that part of the investigation will focus on why Detective Bryan Gillis failed to turn on his body-worn camera during the interaction with Scheffler and during the arrest itself. Louisville Metro PD policy mandates that officers keep their body-worn cameras in a constant state of operational readiness and activate them in recording mode before any law enforcement activities or encounters.
According to the incident report, Gillis was injured when Scheffler “refused to comply” with instructions and then “accelerated forward.” The absence of body camera footage during this critical moment is under scrutiny. Greenberg explained, “From my understanding, based on the facts I am aware of right now, I understand why bodycam may not have been turned on at the initial contact between Officer Gillis and Mr. Scheffler. I still have questions about why it was not on during Mr. Scheffler’s arrest.”
Scheffler, who faces four charges, including the felony charge of assaulting a police officer, was expected to be arraigned on Tuesday. However, this hearing has now been rescheduled to June 3. Despite the ongoing situation, Scheffler is set to participate in this week’s Charles Schwab Challenge in Ft. Worth, Texas. He described the incident as “a big misunderstanding” in a prior statement, adding that his “situation will get handled.” His attorney, Steve Romines, has indicated that Scheffler will plead not guilty to the charges.
Mayor Greenberg also noted that while Detective Gillis did not record the incident with his body-worn camera, footage of the event was captured by a fixed camera from across the street. The city intends to release this footage soon, which may shed additional light on the incident.
As the investigation continues, many are eager to see whether the Louisville Metro Police Department’s review will clarify any missteps and whether Scheffler’s claims of a misunderstanding hold up. All eyes are on the upcoming updates scheduled for May 23, 2024, and the eventual court proceedings in June.
