The twists and turns in the Scottie Scheffler saga continue unabated. Now, Louisville mayor Craig Greenberg has indicated the police officers involved in the case will themselves be under investigation.
Scheffler was arrested trying to drive onto the premises at Valhalla Golf Course before the second round of the PGA Championship last weekend.
Because why would the world’s number-one golfer be trying to get into a major championship?
Anyway, now the microscope is being focused on the officers involved.
“I think that’s critically important that we do that, not just in high-profile events like [those that] took place on Friday, but on a regular basis,” Greenberg said at a weekly press conference. “And if policies are not being followed, there will be transparency about that. There will be action taken.”
LMPD Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel adds that 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,” she said.
RELATED: New Witness Emerges Casting Doubt On Scottie Scheffler Police Report
Scottie Scheffler Arrest Under Investigation?
There are some holes in the story coming out of the Louisville Metro Police Department regarding the Scheffler arrest.
While the official police report states that Detective Bryan Gillis was ‘dragged’ to the ground by the golfer’s car after he “refused to comply,” a new witness emerged in recent days suggesting the officer actually tripped.
Golf broadcast play-by-play announcer Bob Wischusen offered a version of events that seemed to portray Gillis as the initial aggressor and his injuries being a result of not being able to maintain his footing in rainy conditions.
“My impression was he was kind of running alongside chasing the car, and maybe he tripped and fell. I mean, there was kind of an outcropping or median, you know, by the front gate,” he said in an interview with Golf.com.
“And keep in mind, it was raining. It was 6 o’clock in the morning. It was dark.”
Body Cam Turned Off
Additionally, Greenberg indicates that Gillis’ bodycam was not activated during the encounter, which appears to be a violation of LMPD protocol.
That policy, according to WLKY News Louisville, states: “Members will immediately activate their BWC (body-worn camera) in recording mode prior to engaging in all law enforcement activities or encounters.”
Directing traffic seems like a law enforcement activity. And the fact that Gillis was wearing a uniform and reflective clothing.
His comments, according to Wischusen, also indicate he was identifying his own police action during the arrest.
“He runs up to the driver’s side, and with the butt end of his flashlight starts screaming, you know, ‘Get out of the car, get out of the car’ — banging on the window — ‘shut the engine off, get out of the car. I’m a police officer.’”
Scheffler was put up against a car and cuffed immediately afterward. And still, the only video at this point comes from ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington who happened to be on the scene.
Here is video that I took of Scheffler being arrested: https://t.co/8UPZKvPCCf pic.twitter.com/9Tbp2tyrJh
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) May 17, 2024
RELATED: Charges NOT Being Dropped In Scottie Scheffler Case: Report
Charges Not Being Dropped
While there isn’t bodycam footage, Mayor Greenberg did indicate that there is another video that will be released very soon from a pole across the street.
He has indicated he’ll let that video speak for itself.
As for the bodycam problem, that seems to be the crux of any investigation into the police handling of the Scottie Scheffler case.
Greenberg says there is some explanation as to why it wasn’t activated immediately. Still, he has “questions about why it was not on during Mr. Scheffler’s arrest.”
Meanwhile, Louisville police seem intent on going through with this. Rumors that charges against Scheffler had been dropped were denied by his lawyer, and an arraignment date was set for June 3rd, at 9 AM.
Scheffler has been charged with second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding traffic signals after trying to navigate around an officer directing traffic.
The first charge is a felony punishable by anywhere between 5 and 10 years in prison.
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