Scottie Scheffler, the highest golfer on the earth, was arrested Friday and charged with felony assault on a police officer and reckless driving outdoors of a PGA championship occasion in Louisville, Kentucky.
Scheffler, 27, was detained after he was seen driving on a median towards the doorway to Valhalla Golf Membership, the positioning of the occasion, and initially failing to heed an officer’s order for him to cease, in response to an ESPN reporter who witnessed the incident.
On the time, site visitors outdoors the doorway was being rerouted after a person was hit and killed by a shuttle bus earlier that day.
A police report alleged that round 6:16 a.m. ET, Scheffler swerved into opposing site visitors lanes to keep away from backed-up site visitors and acquire entry to the golf course.
An officer, in uniform and carrying a high-visibility rain jacket, stopped Scheffler and tried to provide him directions, however the golfer “refused to conform and accelerated ahead, dragging [the officer] to the bottom,” the report alleged.
The officer, Detective Bryan Gillis of the Louisville Metro Police Division, “suffered ache, swelling, and abrasions to his left wrist and knee” and was taken to a hospital, in response to the report obtained by native NBC affiliate WAVE3.
The report additionally famous, “Detective Gillis’ uniform pants, valued at roughly $80 have been broken past restore.”
Shortly earlier than his scheduled tee-off time Friday morning, Scheffler in a press release described the incident as the results of a “large misunderstanding.”
Mugshot of PGA Golfer Scott Alexander Scheffler, who was arrested on prices of assaulting a police officer after attempting to enter the PGA Championship venue, on Could 17, 2024.
Supply: Louisville Metro Police Division
“This morning, I used to be continuing as directed by law enforcement officials. It was a really chaotic state of affairs, understandably so contemplating the tragic accident that had occurred earlier,” Scheffler mentioned in a publish on his official Instagram account.
“There was a giant misunderstanding of what I believed I used to be being requested to do,” he mentioned. “I by no means meant to ignore any of the directions. I am hopeful to place this to the aspect and give attention to golf at present.”
The Louisville Metropolitan Division of Corrections web site confirmed that Scheffler was booked at 7:28 a.m. ET.
The reserving data initially confirmed prices of second-degree assault on a police officer — a felony — in addition to third-degree misdemeanor prison mischief, reckless driving and disregarding indicators from an officer directing site visitors.
Scheffler was launched from the Louisville facility with out bail shortly earlier than 9 a.m. ET, in response to WAVE3.
Scottie Scheffler arrives to the course throughout the second spherical of the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Membership in Louisville, Kentucky, on Could 17, 2024.
Ben Jared | PGA Tour | Getty Photos
“We’ll simply let all of it play out, that is the extent of what we all know. It is shifting fairly quick presently, however we’ll litigate the case because it comes,” Scheffler’s lawyer, Steve Romines, advised reporters after the golfer’s launch.
In a press release to CNBC, Romines mentioned Scheffler was driving to the golf course to begin his preround preparations and “continuing as directed by one other site visitors officer.”
“Because of the mixture of occasion site visitors and a site visitors fatality within the space, it was a really chaotic state of affairs,” Romines mentioned.
“Within the confusion, Scottie is alleged to have disregarded a unique officer’s site visitors indicators leading to these prices,” the legal professional mentioned, including, “a number of eyewitnesses have confirmed that he didn’t do something flawed however was merely continuing as directed.”
“He stopped instantly upon being directed to and by no means at any level assaulted any officer together with his car,” in response to Romines.”
Scottie Scheffler of the U.S. and his caddie, Ted Scott, stroll to the driving vary throughout the second spherical of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Membership in Louisville, Kentucky, on Could 17, 2024.
Ross Kinnaird | Getty Photos
Scheffler teed off simply after 10:08 a.m. ET from the tenth gap for the second day of the championship. He arrived at Valhalla Golf Membership round 9:10 a.m. ET, giving him lower than an hour to organize.
Requested for remark, each the PGA Tour and PGA of America referred CNBC to Scheffler’s assertion.
ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington mentioned Friday morning that he noticed Scheffler “detained by law enforcement officials, positioned behind a police car in handcuffs after he tried to tug round what he believed to be safety.”
“When he did not cease, the police officer connected himself to the car. Scheffler then traveled one other 10 yards earlier than stopping the automobile,” Darlington mentioned on ESPN’s “SportsCenter.”
“The police officer then grabbed at his arm, trying to tug him out of the automobile, earlier than Scheffler finally opened the door at which level the police officer pulled Scheffler out of the automobile, pushed him up in opposition to the automobile and instantly positioned him in handcuffs,” Darlington mentioned.
That is breaking information. Please examine again for updates.
