Catherine Rusoff
The Louisville Metro Police Department detective who Golf star Scottie Scheffler arrested last week violated department policies by not turning on his body camera during the incident, officials said Thursday.
An internal investigation found that Detective Bryan Gillis did not turn on his body-worn camera during the encounter, LMPD Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said. said at a press conference.
About that, dash cam footage released by police shows a handcuffed Scheffler being escorted by two officers at the scene (seen at around 25:15 in the video). Police also released a video of a fixed pole camerashowing a panoramic view of the area.
Louisville Police
Gillis was among dozens of police officers at the scene after a pedestrian was struck by a bus near the Valhalla Golf Club, where the PGA Championship was being held. Scheffler allegedly attempted to bypass traffic caused by the investigation. According to a police report, Scheffler was in the eastbound lane and attempted to enter the westbound lane, where Gillis, in uniform, was standing.
Gillis stopped Scheffler and attempted to give him directions, but Scheffler “refused to comply and sped away,” according to the report. Gillis was dragged “to the ground” and suffered “pain, swelling and abrasions to his left wrist,” according to the report.
Scheffler was charged with second-degree assault on a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding traffic signals by a police officer directing traffic.
Louisville Metropolitan Department of Corrections
Scheffler said online that he was in a “very chaotic situation” and that “there was a huge misunderstanding about what I thought I was being asked to do.” In a statement to CBS News, Scheffler’s attorney, Steve Romines, said the golfer “has never, at any time, struck any law enforcement officer with his vehicle” and added that “we will litigate this matter as necessary.”
Since Gillis was “performing law enforcement,” he should have turned on his camera, Gwinn-Villaroel said Thursday. He “received corrective action for this policy violation,” she said, which was noted on a performance observation form, as is the department’s standard disciplinary protocol.
Gillis Supervisor observed that the detective “should have” his body-worn camera turned on and “at least on standby” while at the scene.
“Due to the confusion in [sic] at the time, his sense of urgency to respond to the fatal MVA and expedite traffic to the PGA Championship, he was unable to turn it on,” the supervisor noted.
Gillis’ division commander similarly noted that “enough time had passed” amid the chaotic situation for Gillis to turn on his camera.
Last month, Scheffler won the 2024 Masters tournamentyour second victory there in three years.
