LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) 鈥� Criminal charges against Scottie Scheffler have been dismissed, ending a legal saga that began with images of the world鈥檚 top male golfer being in Louisville during the PGA Championship.
Jefferson County Attorney Mike O鈥機onnell, a local prosecutor, asked a judge Wednesday afternoon to drop the four charges against Scheffle, who was not required to be in the courtroom Wednesday.
O鈥機onnell said his team reviewed the case in a 鈥渢horough and expeditious manner鈥� and found that Scheffler鈥檚 account of the incident being a big misunderstanding was corroborated by the evidence.
Scheffler was charged with a felony for assaulting a police officer with his vehicle, along with three misdemeanors. The arresting officer, Detective Bryan Gillis, was outside the gate of Valhalla Golf Course May 17 directing traffic after a pedestrian death when he encountered Scheffler.
Scheffler, 27, was driving a PGA courtesy vehicle when Gillis said he 鈥渞efused to comply and accelerated forward, dragging鈥� Gillis to the ground. Gillis said his uniform pants were damaged in the fall and he was taken to the hospital for his injuries.
A surveillance video released by Louisville police last week showed Gillis pursuing Scheffler鈥檚 vehicle on foot and stopping him from entering the course. Scheffler is later pulled from the car and cuffed. But the video did not show Gillis鈥� first contact with Scheffler, authorities said.
Gillis has been disciplined for not activating his body-worn camera during the arrest. In a report on that failure, Gillis wrote that Scheffler had 鈥渄emanded to be let in鈥� the golf course.
Scheffler has said he simply misunderstood the commands coming from traffic officers.
The famous golfer spent a brief stint in a jail cell, then returned to the course for the second round. He tied for eighth place.
Dylan Lovan, The Associated Press
