World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler was cleared of all charges on Wednesday after being arrested and jailed on his way to the PGA Championships earlier this month. At a hearing, it was determined that the evidence presented did not meet the criteria for criminal offenses according to Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Mike O’Connell. The charges included a felony assault of a police officer, misdemeanor criminal mischief, misdemeanor reckless driving, and misdemeanor disregarding traffic signals.
New body-camera footage of the incident emerged on Wednesday, showing Scheffler claiming that he did not realize the officer who grabbed him was a cop because the officer was wearing a yellow vest. The decision to drop the charges was made in the interest of resolving the matter amicably according to a source close to the case.
Scheffler’s attorney, Steve Romines, spoke at a press conference following the announcement, highlighting the potential consequences of an encounter with law enforcement even when one has not committed any wrongdoing. The incident leading to Scheffler’s arrest occurred at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, where he was accused of driving through the scene of a fatal crash and failing to obey orders to stop. An officer allegedly attempted to stop Scheffler, hitting him with a flashlight in the process before Scheffler drove off, allegedly injuring the officer.
The incident highlights the potential implications of encounters with law enforcement officers, even for individuals like Scheffler who were on their way to golf tournament when they were arrested. It is important for everyone involved in such incidents to be aware of their rights and seek legal representation if necessary.
