LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The police officer who tried to cease world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler from getting into Valhalla Golf Membership on Friday morning was dragged to the bottom and suffered “ache, swelling and abrasions” to his left wrist and knee after Scheffler’s automotive accelerated, in accordance with an incident report launched by the Louisville Metro Police Division.
The report, a replica of which was obtained by ESPN, mentioned detective Bryan Gillis, recognized as Det. Gillis within the report, was directing site visitors at Shelbyville Street close to Gate 1 of Valhalla Golf Membership, the positioning of this week’s PGA Championship. Site visitors exterior the golf course had been stopped after a person was struck and killed by a shuttle bus round 5 a.m. ET.
The report mentioned Gillis was standing in the course of the westbound lanes when Scheffler’s SUV pulled into the lanes to keep away from the site visitors backup The report mentioned Gillis was sporting a full police uniform and a “high-visibility yellow reflective rain jacket.”
Gillis stopped Scheffler’s SUV and tried to offer directions, in accordance with the report.
“The topic refused to conform and accelerated ahead, dragging Detective Gillis to the bottom,” the report mentioned.
Gillis was transported to a hospital by emergency medical personnel for analysis. The report mentioned his uniform pants have been additionally broken past restore.
Scheffler faces fees of second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree legal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding site visitors indicators from an officer directing site visitors. The assault cost is a felony; the others are misdemeanors.
An arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday at 9 a.m. ET.
Maj. Jason Logsdon of the Louisville Metro Division of Corrections instructed ESPN that Scheffler was launched at 8:40 a.m. ET Friday with out bail. He arrived at Valhalla lower than an hour earlier than he was scheduled to tee off at 10:08 a.m. ET. Scheffler shot a 5-under 66 on Friday to maneuver right into a tie for third place on the leaderboard.
“This morning, I used to be continuing as directed by law enforcement officials,” Scheffler mentioned in an announcement. “It was a really chaotic state of affairs, understandably so contemplating the tragic accident that had occurred earlier, and there was an enormous misunderstanding of what I assumed I used to be being requested to do. I by no means meant to ignore any of the directions. I am hopeful to place this to the facet and concentrate on golf in the present day.
“In fact, all of us concerned within the match specific our deepest sympathies to the household of the person who handed away within the earlier accident this morning. It really places all the pieces in perspective.”
In line with ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington, who witnessed the incident, Scheffler was making an attempt to drive across the crash scene. At one level, in accordance with Darlington, Gillis hooked up himself to the facet of Scheffler’s automotive. Scheffler stopped his automotive as he become the doorway of Valhalla Golf Membership.
After about 20 to 30 seconds, Scheffler rolled down his window to speak to the officer. The officer grabbed Scheffler’s arm to drag him out of the automobile, in accordance with Darlington. The officer reached contained in the automobile to open the door, and as soon as Scheffler was pulled out, he was pushed in opposition to the automotive and positioned in handcuffs.
Darlington was standing on the entrance when Scheffler was detained. Darlington mentioned Scheffler turned to him and requested, “Are you able to assist?”
In line with Darlington, an officer instructed him to again away.
“Our major concern in the present day stays with the household of John Mills, who misplaced his life in a tragic accident early this morning whereas reporting to work,” mentioned the PGA of America in an announcement. “Because it pertains to the incident involving Scottie Scheffler, we’re absolutely cooperating as native authorities evaluate what passed off. Whereas the authorized course of performs out, questions ought to be directed to Scheffler’s lawyer or native authorities.”
Scheffler’s lawyer, Steven Romines, instructed ESPN that the golfer tried to enter Valhalla Golf Membership as he had been instructed to earlier, unaware there had been a deadly wreck simply up the highway.
“He was going into Valhalla to work out,” Romines mentioned. “He was preparing for his tee time. They have been directing site visitors. He held his credential out and was getting in like they’d been instructed to. Apparently, there had been a site visitors accident, perhaps even a fatality, down the highway, and that had modified the site visitors patterns, and he was unaware of that.”
Romines, talking exterior the Louisville Metro Division of Corrections, mentioned the officer who tried to cease Scheffler wasn’t a part of the common event-traffic element at Valhalla Golf Membership, “in order that’s the place the miscommunication arose.”
“They’re allowed to undergo, that is why they’ve the credential and the wave-through,” Romines mentioned. “[Scheffler] was unaware there had been a wreck, and he proceeded like they’d been instructed to. He did precisely as he was instructed to enter the premises.”
Romines mentioned Scheffler would cooperate absolutely with police, and “we’ll take care of it because it progresses.”
“This morning, our metropolis skilled a tragic accident that took the lifetime of John Mills, a Louisvillian who might be enormously missed by his household and our group. Our focus is on this household who misplaced their liked one. I’ve spoken with members of Mr. Mills’ household to convey our metropolis’s condolences,” mentioned Louisville mayor Craig Greenberg in an announcement.
“Following this tragedy, LMPD stopped site visitors to help with its investigation into the deadly accident. It’s unlucky that an incident passed off between an LMPD officer and Mr. Scheffler whereas he was trying to enter Valhalla. LMPD is absolutely investigating this incident and the authorized course of will proceed. We respect everybody’s cooperation.
“We stay centered on the tragic lack of life and can share extra info on each of those issues as out there.”