Top Louisville cops think Scottie Scheffler felony charge is ‘excessive’

Golf

By Christian Arnold

Some of Louisville’s top police officials have expressed concern over the severity of the charge against golfer Scottie Scheffler relating to his arrest outside the PGA Championship last week, according to a new report. 

Multiple Louisville police officials, during a recent meeting, agreed that the felony assault charge the world No. 1 golfer is facing is excessive, a source told CNN on Wednesday. 

Scheffler is facing four charges, with the most severe being felony second-degree assault on a police officer, after he allegedly tried to go around an officer directing traffic at the scene of a fatal crash outside Valhalla Golf Club on Friday. 

Police are planning on holding a news conference Thursday to discuss the case, and CNN reported that officials will release new video from the arrest that was shot from a traffic pole camera nearby.

However, it’s unclear if it will show the beginning of the alleged incident between Scheffler and Det. Bryan Gillis. 

The alleged events leading to the arrest started around 6 a.m. last Friday as Scheffler was attempting to make his way into Valhalla Golf Club for the second round of the PGA Championship when a fatal accident investigation caused traffic delays.

Scheffler is alleged to have injured Det. Gillis, and was arrested, according to the police report.  

Along with the felony second-degree assault charge, Scheffler is also facing third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding signals from officers directing traffic charges. 

The golfer has described the situation as a “big misunderstanding.”

Scheffler was scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday, but the judge presiding over the case granted a motion for a continuance and it was postponed until June 3 due to a scheduling conflict for Scheffler’s attorney Steve Romines. 

Jefferson County attorney Mike O’Connell objected to the continuance, but Louisville councilmember Anthony Piagentini also expressed a belief to CNN that the case was being overcharged.

“I think the charges should either be dropped entirely or at least be dropped down to a very, very tiny misdemeanor,” Piagentini told the outlet. “I don’t know every piece of evidence, but I know enough to say the officer was trying to do his job, Mr. Scheffler was trying to do his job, and an unfortunate circumstance happened.”

Romines said earlier this week that Scheffler will plead not guilty. 

Police are also looking into whether Gillis followed protocol during the incident with Scheffler.