All charges against world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler were dropped on Wednesday, May 28, following his controversial arrest earlier this month. Scheffler, who was taken into custody on May 17 just before the second round of the PGA Championship, was accused of disobeying police commands and allegedly dragging a detective with his SUV. Both Scheffler and the prosecution now acknowledge the incident as a “big misunderstanding.”
During a press conference after the charges were dismissed, Scheffler’s attorney, Steve Romines, criticized the police’s handling of the situation and the subsequent arrest. “It’s obvious he didn’t do anything wrong,” Romines stated emphatically. “The more evidence that comes out, the more it shows that Scottie was a victim here.”
Romines expressed strong sentiments about the police actions, accusing them of false arrest and using leading questions. He stressed the importance of understanding one’s rights when interacting with law enforcement. “That’s why you don’t talk to the police,” Romines asserted. “They are not trying to get to what happened. They are trying to get you to incriminate yourself.”
The incident occurred as Scheffler was attempting to enter Valhalla Golf Club amid traffic chaos following a fatal accident involving a PGA shuttle bus. Detective Bryan Gillis claimed Scheffler’s SUV dragged him, causing injuries. Scheffler maintained he was unaware of the severity of the situation and was following directions to proceed to the venue.
In court, Jefferson County Attorney Mike O’Connell filed a motion to dismiss all charges, including assault of an officer. O’Connell stated, “Based upon the totality of the evidence, my office cannot move forward in the prosecution of the charges filed against Mr. Scheffler. Mr. Scheffler’s characterization that this was a ‘big misunderstanding’ is corroborated by the evidence.”
Despite the dismissal of charges, Romines made it clear that Scheffler would not pursue civil litigation against the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD). “Lawsuits are paid by the taxpayers. If he prevails in civil litigation against the LMPD, who pays that? Taxpayers of Louisville. He doesn’t wish the taxpayers of Louisville to pay him for whatever occurred,” Romines explained. He emphasized that litigation would be a distraction for Scheffler, who is currently having a historic season.
Scheffler, who was not present at the hearing, expressed his desire to move past the incident. In an Instagram story, he wrote, “I hold no ill will toward Officer Gillis. I wish to put this incident behind me and move on, and I hope he will do the same. Police officers have a difficult job and I hold them in high regard. This was a severe miscommunication in a chaotic situation.”
Scheffler’s focus now returns to his professional career. Following his release, he managed to maintain competitive form in the PGA Championship, finishing tied for eighth. He is set to compete in the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club next week, as he prepares for the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in June.
Romines also took a moment to extend condolences to the family of John Mills, the 69-year-old man fatally struck by a PGA shuttle bus, emphasizing the real tragedy of May 17. “My thoughts and prayers continue to be with John Mills and his family,” Scheffler echoed in his social media post, hoping to personally offer his condolences now that the case is resolved.
This incident underscores the complexities and potential misunderstandings that can arise in high-pressure situations, especially involving public figures. For Scheffler, moving on means focusing on his game and maintaining his status as one of the world’s top golfers.
