Detective who arrested Scheffler is punished over bodycam failure (2024)

Louisville police detective Bryan Gillis, the officer who arrested world no. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler, has been reprimanded for his failure to wear or turn on his bodycam.

Gillis claims he was knocked down by Scheffler's vehicle in the early morning hours of Friday May 17, before he eventually arrested the golfer outside the Valhalla Golf Club for the PGA Championship.

But he failed to properly turn on his bodycam - which led to some form of 'corrective action' from the police department, according to police chiefJacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel.


'Detective Gillis should have turned on his body-worn camera, but did not,' Gwinn-Villaroel said at a press conference alongside Louisville mayor Craig Greenberg.

'His failure to do so is a violation of the LMPD policy on uniforms and equipment.'

Louisville police detective Bryan Gillis faced 'corrective action' for not turning his bodycam on

Read MoreBREAKING NEWS Scottie Scheffler's court date could land him 10 YEARS in prison after his charges were not dropped by Louisville Police after shocking PGA Championship arrest

She continued, 'He was performing a law-enforcement action as defined in our policy... We understand the seriousness of the failure to capture this interaction, which is why our officer has received corrective action for this policy violation.'

In a police report, Gillis gave his account of the incident - saying that he tried to stop Scheffler, who 'demanded to be let in' to Valhalla.

'While directing traffic in front of Gate 1 the PGA personnel stopped a bus from entering Gate 1,' Gillis' account read.

'I observed a vehicle traveling in the opposing lanes coming at me. I stopped the driver and advised him he could not proceed because of the bus:

'[Scheffler] demanded to be let in, and proceeded forward against my directions. I was dragged/knocked down by the driver. I then proceeded to arrest the driver.'

Stunning images showed the reigning Masters champion being hauled off to jail in handcuffs as captured by ESPN's Jeff Darlington.

Despite speculation that the charges against Scheffler could be dropped, officials vowed to 'respect the legal process' and 'let it play out'.

Scheffler is set to be arraigned in court next month on charges of felony second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding traffic signals from an officer directing traffic.

Scheffler was arrested last Friday and faces multiple charges including second-degree assault

In remarkable footage the two-time Masters winner was seen being led into a police car

Read More Louisville police post Scottie Scheffler arrest footage... but it doesn't show golf star 'dragging a detective down the street'

In Kentucky, second-degree assault is a Class C felony which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

'We are all looking to move forward,' Mayor Greenberg said. 'But we have to respect the legal process. And that's what we are going to do. We are going to let that play out.'

Officials also released two new videos of the scene outside Valhalla, as well as a 'body-worn camera failure to record form', which detailed testimony fromDetective Gillis.

After the press conference, Steve Romines - the lawyer representing Scheffler - released a statement.

'(This) won't impact my case at all. Our position is the same as it was last Friday. Scottie Scheffler didn't do anything wrong, we're not interested in settling the case, we'll either try it or it will be dismissed,' he said.

'It's very simple. All the evidence that continues to come out continues to support what Scottie said all along - this was a chaotic situation and a miscommunication and he didn't do anything wrong.

'We're prepared to litigate the case if we need to. If we don't need to, fine, but our position remains the same: it will either be dismissed or we'll go to trial... we'll let the process play out.

Scheffler will return to action on the PGA Tour at the Charles Schwab Classic on Thursday

He added: 'My role is to represent Scottie Scheffler and that's what I'll continue to do. Nothing has changed since my comment last week: he didn't do anything wrong.

'We will go to trial or the case will be dismissed. We have no interest in settling the case, there are no discussions regarding that. We're prepared to litigate as need be.

Romines was aware of the video which was subsequently released on Thursday. 'I've seen everything that there is to see. Everything out there supports exactly what Scottie has said from the start.'

Scheffler has teed off at the Charles Schwab Challenge in his own backyard in the city of Fort Worth, Texas earlier Thursday afternoon.

Detective who arrested Scheffler is punished over bodycam failure (2024)

FAQs

Detective who arrested Scheffler is punished over bodycam failure? ›

At a news conference Thursday, Louisville's mayor and police chief announced an internal investigation of the case led to discipline for the arresting officer, Detective Bryan Gillis. “Detective Gillis should have turned on his body-worn camera, but did not,” Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said.

Who is the detective who arrested Scheffler? ›

The officer, Detective Bryan Gillis, said he wishes Scheffler and his family “all the best” but took issue with comments by Scheffler's attorney after the Wednesday court hearing. Gillis released the one-page statement to WAVE-TV in Louisville Wednesday night.

Why was Scheffler arrested in Louisville? ›

The Louisville Metro Police Department arrested Scheffler, the world's No. 1. golfer, outside of Valhalla Golf Club earlier this month, alleging that he failed to comply with an officer's instructions and consequently “dragged” an officer to the ground with his moving vehicle.

Who is Scottie Scheffler's wife? ›

Scottie Scheffler, wife Meredith welcome first child ahead of PGA Championship - PGA TOUR.

Who was arrested in the Idaho student killings? ›

More than six weeks after four college students were slain in an off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, police arrested a suspect, Bryan Christopher Kohberger, who is charged with their murders.

What is Scottie Scheffler's story? ›

1 golfer Scottie Scheffler was arrested by Louisville Metro Police on Friday morning after trying to drive into the entrance of Valhalla Golf Club, the site of this week's PGA Championship. Traffic outside the golf course had been stopped after a man was struck and killed by a shuttle bus around 5 a.m. ET.

What happened to Scheffler on 18? ›

Scottie Scheffler had to wait out a climate protest on the 18th green and Tom Kim's tying birdie on the last hole of regulation. Those events only delayed what seems to be inevitable on the PGA Tour this season: the best golfer in the world walking off with the trophy.

Why did Scottie Scheffler change caddies? ›

'That's something we talked about from the beginning of our relationship was family always comes first, and it's the same thing for me as it is for my caddie. 'It was a pretty easy decision. He told me at the beginning of this year that that was the date that it was, so I got a backup caddie lined up. '

What do Scottie Scheffler's parents do for a living? ›

Scheffler's father was a stay-at-home dad, while his mother worked as a chief operating officer at the law firm Thompson & Knight. Scheffler's interest in golf began at age three, when his parents gave him a set of plastic clubs and ball.

What religion is Scottie Scheffler? ›

The high-school sweethearts had married in 2020, and Scheffler paid tribute to her and his Christian faith after easing into his first green jacket. “The reason why I play golf is I'm trying to glorify God and all that He's done in my life.

Where do Scottie and Meredith Scheffler live? ›

3. They got engaged and married in 2020. They currently live in Dallas, Texas. "Dallas became home pretty quickly for us as kids, and I couldn't really imagine living anywhere else," Scottie said in an interview.

What happened to the arrested golfer? ›

Charges against world's top golfer Scottie Scheffler dropped after arrest outside PGA Championship. Criminal charges against Scottie Scheffler have been dismissed, ending a legal saga that began with images of the world's top golfer being arrested and handcuffed in Louisville during the PGA Championship.

Is Scottie Scheffler religious? ›

A devout Christian, he once said he played the sport because he was “trying to glorify God.” The 27-year-old is the favorite to win the PGA Championship this weekend and arguably not since Tiger Woods in his prime has a player been so superior on the course.

How much did Xander Schauffele make today? ›

He not only won his first PGA Tour event since 2022 on Sunday at Valhalla Golf Course, but it is also the first major of his career, which also brought a payout of $3.33 million from the PGA Championship purse.

What nationality is Xander Schauffele? ›

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