On Tuesday, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg announced that the city’s police department will investigate whether its officers used proper protocols when arresting Scottie Scheffler as he was trying to enter Valhalla Golf Club for the second round of the PGA Championship.
The arrest shocked the sports world and sent PGA and Valhalla officials into crisis mode.
In a released statement, Louisville police chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said that an update on the investigation will be provided Thursday.
“The internal investigation is still ongoing. Any policy violations that are revealed through the course of the investigation will be appropriately addressed according to LMPD’s disciplinary protocol,” she said in the statement.
Greenberg said he thought it was “critically important” that police address its investigation, “and if policies are not being followed, there will be transparency about that. There will be action taken,” according to the Louisville Courier-Journal.
A spokesperson for the Louisville Metro Police told ESPN on Saturday that Det. Bryan Gillis failed to activate his bodycam video recorder before Scheffler was stopped. He also failed to turn it on when handcuffing and arresting Scheffler.
According to the LMPD’s procedures: Officers “will immediately activate their BWC in recording mode prior to engaging in all law enforcement activities or encounters.”
“From my understanding, based on the facts I am aware of right now, I understand why bodycam may not have been turned on at the initial contact between Officer Gillis and Mr. Scheffler,” Greenberg said on Tuesday.
“I still have questions about why it was not on during Mr. Scheffler’s arrest.”
According to Greenberg, the city plans to release a video that was recorded by a camera located across the street.
In the police report, Det. Gillis claimed Scheffler’s courtesy SUV accelerated as he was trying to stop him from entering Valhalla Golf Club. The officer alleged he was then dragged, causing injuries and permanently damaging his police-issued pants, valued at $80.
Scheffler was attempting to enter the club property as traffic was backed up due to an unrelated fatal crash. He is facing four charges, three misdemeanors and one felony – second degree assault of a police officer.
Scheffler was booked at Louisville Department of Corrections and shockingly forced to take a mug shot in prison orange. An arraignment is scheduled for June 3 at 9 a.m. ET.
