Charges dropped against Scottie Scheffler in arrest outside PGA championship

The criminal charges against world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler have been dismissed following his arrest earlier this month at the PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky.

Scheffler, 27, was taken into custody by Louisville Police on May 17 outside Valhalla Golf Club ahead of the second round of the tournament. He was booked on four criminal counts, including assault of a police officer, criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding signals from officers directing traffic.

Scottie Scheffler reacts after missing a putt on the seventh hole during the first round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at the Valhalla Golf Club, Thursday, May 16, 2024, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

A police report obtained by Scripps News and Court TV says he attempted to drive around traffic that was caused by a fatal accident near the country club. The report says Scheffler “refused to comply” with an officer directing traffic and “accelerated forward, dragging Detective Gillis to the ground.”

The officer was reportedly transported to a nearby hospital to be examined for “pain, swelling and abrasions to his left wrist and knee.”

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Surveillance footage released by Louisville police last week appeared to show Gillis approaching Scheffler’s vehicle on foot before stopping him from entering the golf course. Scheffler can later be seen being led away in handcuffs.

Gillis has been disciplined for not having his body camera activated during the arrest. Scheffler described the incident as “a big misunderstanding.”

This story was originally published by Scripps News, an E.W. Scripps Company.