LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Video of the encounter between professional golfer Scottie Scheffler and Louisville police outside Valhalla Golf Club is expected to be released this week, Mayor Craig Greenberg told reporters on Tuesday.
The footage from a pole camera across from the club’s entrance on Shelbyville Road appears to be the only footage of the incident that led to Scheffler’s arrest Friday morning, the second day of the PGA Championship. Police announced over the weekend that footage from the officer’s body-worn camera that captured the initial interaction does not exist.
Greenberg said he had seen the recording, but declined to describe it.
“I want the video to speak for itself,” he said at a news conference in the Paristown Point neighborhood. “This points to Mr. Scheffler’s arrest. I leave it to others to draw their conclusions.”
Greenberg said he has not had any conversations about the case with Jefferson County Attorney Mike O’Connell, whose office is prosecuting the case. “That’s not my intention,” he said. “We need to proceed through the legal process as usual and, again, we hope that all parties will be able to move forward on June 3.”
But the mayor did not respond to questions about whether officials from his administration had spoken with O’Connell or the mayor’s office, or whether they had discussed the case with anyone from the county attorney’s office.
Greenberg deferred other questions to police, including understanding the Louisville Police Department’s body camera policy for traffic control officers and the nature of the investigation by Detective Brian Gillis, who arrested Scheffler.
However, the mayor said, “I understand why Mr. Gillis’ body camera was not turned on during the initial contact between Officer Gillis and Mr. Scheffler, but why was it not turned on during Mr. Scheffler’s arrest? There are still questions about that.”
He said he expected Secretary Jacqueline Gwynne Villarroel “to comment this week.”
LMPD spokesman Dwight Mitchell declined to say what kind of investigation has been opened or will be conducted, and did not respond to questions about clarifying the body camera policy.
“We will advise the media at the appropriate time and notify them once plans are finalized,” Mitchell said in an emailed response to questions.
Hours later, LMPD released a statement from Gwyn Villarroel saying an internal investigation was underway.
“Policy violations revealed during the course of the investigation will be appropriately addressed in accordance with LMPD’s disciplinary protocols. The department plans to provide additional updates regarding the investigation on Thursday, May 23, 2024.”
LMPD’s body-worn camera (BWC) policy requires officers to “immediately activate their BWC in recording mode before engaging in any law enforcement activity or encounter.”
This policy states, “If a member is involved in a sudden and unexpected incident and the BWC cannot be activated immediately due to immediate safety concerns, the member will be required to use a safe “Start the BWC at the first opportunity.”
Greenberg said Saturday it was unclear whether Gillis did not have his body camera with him or if he did not have it activated.
Scheffler, the world’s No. 1-ranked golfer and reigning Masters champion, was arrested and charged with felony assault on a police officer last Friday outside a golf course in eastern Jefferson County. He was booked into the downtown jail around 7:30 a.m. for refusing to stop near the scene of a fatal accident.
Crestwood resident John Mills was struck and killed by a shuttle bus around 5 a.m. as he crossed Shelbyville Road to work as a security guard at Valhalla, authorities said. He passed away at the age of 69.
Scheffler’s lawyer, Steve Romines, said the golfer was told by one of the officers to enter the club grounds, but that Gillis was unaware of the order. Police accuse Scheffler of not following Gillis’ instructions, accelerating and dragging the detective to the ground.
Gillis was taken to the hospital with pain, swelling and abrasions on his left knee and wrist. His uniform pants, valued at an estimated $80, were “damaged beyond repair,” according to the arrest report.
Witnesses said Gillis tried to grab Scheffler’s car as it slowly moved forward. “Scotty had no idea what was going on,” Romines said.
Gillis was “wearing an LMPD uniform and a high-visibility yellow reflective rain jacket” when he stopped Scheffler and attempted to give him instructions, according to the arrest report.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler plays a practice round at Valhalla Golf Course ahead of the PGA Championship on May 14, 2024.
Scheffler was originally scheduled to be arraigned on the charges Tuesday. On Monday, during an impromptu hearing in Jefferson Circuit Court, the O’Connell County Attorney objected to a two-week postponement of the arraignment, currently scheduled for June 3.
Mr. O’Connell told Judge Anne Delahanty that the delay amounted to preferential treatment for Mr. Scheffler. A clearly exasperated Romines claimed that court proceedings were routinely delayed.
Delahunty ruled that the delay was excusable given that the initial arraignment date was scheduled before Romines’ schedule was confirmed.
The judge also ruled that Scheffler must be present at the arraignment, which is typically required in felony cases.
In a speech Tuesday morning, Greenberg called Romines’ request a “regular motion” but declined to say whether he agreed with or opposed O’Connell’s action.
This story may be updated.
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