Golf superstar Scottie Scheffler has been cleared of four charges including second-degree assault of a police officer following his arrest at the US PGA Championship after prosecutors dropped the charges.
The images of the world No. 1 being detained outside of Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky on the morning of May 17 stunned the sporting world. It later emerged that the 27-year-old had been charged third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding traffic signals from an officer directing traffic, alongside the second-degree assault charge.
But in a statement delivered to court on Wednesday, Jefferson County Attourney Michael O'Connell confirmed all charges were being dropped, while confirming Scheffler wasn't aware of the tragic incident that had occurred earlier in the morning, which saw a fan lose his life after being hit by a bus.
After that tragic incident, police put an alternative traffic flow in place, which Scheffler was accused of attempting to bypass as he attempted to get into the course for his tee time in the second round of the tournament. After a brief interaction with police, Scheffler was arrested and taken into custody, before being bailed a few hours later. The reigning Masters champion admitted he started stretching and warming up for the day's play while he was still in his cell.
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But speaking to a judge, O'Connell confirmed that the evidence he and his team had collected had confirmed Scheffler's initial defence, that the issue was a complete and utter misunderstanding. He said: "The events that led us here today began with a tragedy. Just after 5a.m. on May 17, in a steady rainstorm, Mr. John Mills was struck and killed by a shuttle bus. Mr. Mills leaves behind a wife, four children, and a team of grandchildren, and my hope is more attention will soon be paid to Mr. Mills and his life. Mr. Mills has designated the Bluegrass Center for Autism for anyone wanting to make a donation.
"The death of John Mills is not part of the case before you, your Honor, but this terrible incident set in motion a confusing and chaotic scene at Gate 1, of Valhalla Golf Course. Because of this tragedy, Detective Bryan Gillis, along with other members of L.MPD, were rerouted from their assigned duties to secure an active investigation scene. A significant amount of traffic had already built up when Detective Gillis arrived and began coordinating the authorized flow of traffic into Gate 1. Mr. Scheffler, who was not informed of the fatality, was driving to the course prior to playing in the second round of the PGA Championship.
"Prior to Mr. Schefiler's arrival, several authorized PGA vehicles were properly allowed to enter Valhalla through Gate 1. A bus, clearly seen on the videos, was attempting to turn into the same entrance. IMPD correctly stopped that bus and instructed it to turn around. Detective Gillis stopped vehicles entering Valhalla while the bus attempted to complete this maneuver. Mr. Scheffler's was among the first vehicles to reach the point at which Detective Gillis was stopping cars. The interaction that followed between Detective Gillis and Mr. Scheffler resulted in LMPD filing four charges."
Scottie Scheffler was detained by police ahead of round two of the PGA Championship (PA)The Louisville Police officer who arrested Scheffler, Bryan Gillis, was later punished after voilating force policy as he failed to turn on his body cam during the detainment of the star. But O'Connell supported Gillis and insisted he was only trying to maintain public safety when he made the arrest.
He continued: "Mr. Scheffler's characterisation that this was 'a big misunderstanding' is corroborated by the evidence. The evidence we reviewed supports the conclusion that Detective Gillis was concerned for public safety at the scene when he initiated contact with Mr. Scheffler, However, Mr. Scheffler's actions and the evidence surrounding their exchange during this misunderstanding do not satisfy the elements of any criminal offences."
While all three of the other charges levelled towards Scheffler were misdemeanours under Kentucky state law, the second-degree assault charge is listed as a Class C felony. Therefore, the golfer could theoretically have been facing a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 in relation to this charge.
Previously, the two-time Masters winner had spoken with sympathy after the death of a pedestrian in a separate incident that morning earlier this month. He said: "This morning, I was proceeding as directed by police officers.
"It was a very chaotic situation, understandably so considering the tragic accident that had occurred earlier, and there was a big misunderstanding of what I thought I was being asked to do. I never intended to disregard any of the instructions. I'm hopeful to put this to the side and focus on golf today.
"Of course, all of us involved in the tournament express our deepest sympathies to the family of the man who passed away in the earlier accident this morning. It truly puts everything in perspective."
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