LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Saying transparency is important, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, D-Louisville, and police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villarroel provided few details at a news conference Thursday about the arrest of professional golfer Scottie Scheffler.
Scheffler was arrested at Valhalla Golf Club on May 17 after a separate incident in which a shuttle bus hit and killed vendor, John Mills, who was crossing Shelbyville Road in Louisville. This was the first day of competition for the PGA Championship.
Gwinn-Villarroel said Det. Bryan Gillis should have turned on his body worn camera at the time of the arrest.
“His failure to do so is a violation of the LMPD policy on uniforms and equipment,” she said.
The chief admitted Gillis did not have his body camera ready to operate while performing a “law enforcement action” as required by the LMPD policy. She said Gillis was counseled by his supervisor but then added, “We understand the seriousness of the failure to capture this interaction, which is why our officer has received corrective action for this policy violation.”
Gwinn-Villarroel did not say what corrective action was taken against Gillis, only that it was written up and placed in his personnel file and that it was “in line with our disciplinary protocol and practices.”
She said they will allow the courts “to proceed accordingly.” Neither Gwinn-Villarroel nor Greenberg took questions from reporters at the news conference.
LMPD released videos from two cameras — one mounted on a pole across the street from the golf club and another from inside a police car.
Greenberg said they are unaware of any video of the initial interaction between Scheffler and Gillis, but video LMPD provided from the pole camera seems to show Scheffler arriving at Valhalla.
In the video taken from the pole, officers can be seen running up to Scheffler’s car at :36 seconds. LMPD officers then surround the driver’s side of the car, and at 2:30 Scheffler gets out of the car. Later, officers are seen walking a handcuffed Scheffler away from his car.
“At the request of the county attorney’s office, any additional video or evidence related to this case will not be released until the conclusion of the legal process,” Greenberg said.
The police report from May 17 said Scheffler tried to go around the backup to enter the golf course. In the report, Gillis said he stopped Scheffler and tried to give him instructions, but said Scheffler refused and allegedly sped up, dragging Gillis to the ground. Gillis’ wrist and knee were swollen and had cuts. He was taken to an area hospital for treatment.
Scheffler is charged with assaulting a police officer, criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding traffic officers.
“Activating body-worn cameras is critically important for our police department to have evidence, maintain the community’s trust, to remain transparent,” Greenberg said. “I know there are a lot of questions right now from every member of the media here and people across the entire city. But we have to respect the legal process and that’s what we are going to do, and we are going to let that play out.”
Steve Romines, Schefflers’ attorney, said after the news conference, “Our position is the same as it was last Friday. Scottie Scheffler didn’t do anything wrong. We’re not interested in settling the case. We will either try it or it will be dismissed.”
Scheffler’s arraignment was postponed until June 3.