A Louisville police officer has been disciplined for failing to turn on his body cam when arresting star golfer Scottie Scheffler.
A fixed-pole camera and the police vehicle’s dashcam caught portions of the arrest of Scheffler at the scene of a fatal crash. In the first video (shown below), you can see a vehicle pull up and quickly turn left. Just after, a police officer chases after the car, which immediately stops.
The second video shows officers handcuffing Scheffler. He was then arrested and eventually released from jail — just in time for the PGA Championship.
According to CNN, “The world no. 1 golfer was attempting to drive to the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville for the second round of the tournament at about 6 a.m. when he came to the scene of a fatal crash. He allegedly injured a police officer who was directing traffic and was arrested, according to police.”
Jefferson County court records revealed that Scheffler was charged with felony second-degree assault on a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding signals from officers directing traffic. Before this incident, the star golfer and new father had a clean record. According to Scheffler himself, his arrest was all just a “big misunderstanding” resulting from a “chaotic situation.”
Police Officer Disciplined for Not Using Body Cam During Scottie Scheffler Arrest
The police officer who arrested Scheffler is now being disciplined for not turning on his body cam during the arrest. Detective Bryan Gillis did not have his camera “operationally ready,” which is required of officers.
“Detective Gillis should have turned on his body-worn camera, but did not,” said Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel. “His failure to do so is a violation of the LMPD policy on uniforms and equipment, subject category body-worn camera.”
“Activating body-worn cameras is critically important for our police department to have evidence, to maintain community trust, to be transparent,” added Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg.
Detective Gillis has his own version of the story, however.
“While directing traffic in front of Gate 1 the PGA personnel stopped a bus from entering Gate 1,” he wrote. “I observed a vehicle traveling in the opposing lanes coming at me. I stopped the driver and advised him he could not proceed because of the bus. He demanded to be let in, and proceeded forward against my directions. I was dragged/knocked down by the driver. I then proceeded to arrest the driver.”
Nevertheless, Detective Gillis has been disciplined for not turning on his body cam as required.