Scottie Scheffler arraignment date revealed after arrest at PGA Championship
World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler will have to appear in court for an arraignment hearing on Tuesday, according to court records. The 27-year-old PGA star had his arraignment set for 9:00 a.m., according to Paolo Uggetti. A Louisville Police Department officer arrested Scheffler on Friday morning as he attempted to enter Valhalla Golf Club for Round 2 of the PGA Championship.
He is now facing four charges: assault of a police officer in the second degree, criminal mischief in the third degree, reckless driving, and disregarding signals from an officer directing traffic. Despite his arrest, Scheffler still made it to the club and onto the tee box for Round 2 after the owner of Valhalla Golf Club drove to the jail and picked him up.
Following Scheffler’s release, the Louisville PD released the arresting officer’s report from the scene. In the report, the officer, Bryan Gillis, details his side of the encounter that resulted in minor injuries.
“Detective Gillis was directing traffic into Gate 1 of the Valhalla Golf Course due to the road being closed in both directions from an earlier fatal collision,” the report reads. “Listed subject was driving eastbound to gain access to the course. Subject pulled into the westbound lanes, where outbound traffic was flowing and to avoid backed up traffic. Detective Gillis was in the middle of the westbound lanes, in full LMPD uniform and a bi-visibility yellow reflective rain jacket.
“Detective Gillis stopped subject and attempted to give instructions. Subject refused to comply and accelerated forward, dragging Detective Gillis to the ground. Detective Gillis suffered pain, swelling, and abrasions to his left wrist and knee. He was transported to the hospital for further medical treatment by emergency medical personnel. Detective Gillis’ uniform pants, valued at approximately $80 were damaged beyond repair.”
Scheffler, officer had ‘miscommunication,’ per lawyer
According to the golfer’s attorney Steve Romines, Scheffler and the officer had a “miscommunication,” which led to the incident. Romines gave a statement following the Master’s winner’s release from jail.
“He was going into Valhalla to work out and get ready for his tee time,” Romines explained on Friday morning. “They were directing traffic. He held his media credential out and was going in like they’d been instructed to and apparently, there had been a traffic accident or maybe even a fatality down the road, and that it changed the traffic patterns. And he was unaware of that. I think the officer that was directing traffic was maybe not part of the event traffic detail. And so that’s where the miscommunication arose.”
“They are allowed to go through,” Romines added. “That’s why they have the credentials. They’re waived through. So, unaware that there had been a wreck, they proceeded like they had been instructed to.”
Based on the start of his round on Friday, Scheffler’s arrest hasn’t impacted his ability to hit shots. He is currently five under par.