LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – Det. of the Louisville Metro Police Department. Bryan Gillis should have had his body camera on when he arrested professional golfer Scottie Scheffler last week and was disciplined, Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said during a news conference Thursday.
Gillis received counseling and completed an activation failure form, according to an investigative report released Thursday. Per LMPD policy, when responding to a call for service, members must activate their body cameras in recording mode before arriving on scene and exiting their vehicle.
“We understand the seriousness of the failure to capture this interaction, which is why our officer received corrective action for this policy violation,” the chief said.
Mayor Craig Greenberg told reporters the city was not aware of any video capturing the initial interaction between Scheffler and police.
Other pole cam and dash cam videos released by LMPD Thursday show part of the incident. In the video above, Gillis is seen running after Scheffler’s SUV and appearing to swing out the driver’s window. He then reaches the window, opens the door and arrests Scheffler.
LMPD said Thursday that Gillis was dragged by the vehicle before appearing on the video to chase it. This part of the incident is obscured by several shuttle buses that do not allow the pole camera on the other side of Shelbyville Road to be seen. The video does not show any other officers rushing toward the vehicle after Gillis was allegedly dragged.
In his investigative report, Gillis said Scheffler “asked to be allowed entry and advanced against my instructions. I was dragged/knocked down by (Scheffler). I then proceeded to arrest him.”
There are several people in the videos – including a busload – who could witness the entire incident.
“I’m going to let the video speak for itself,” Greenberg said at a news conference earlier this week in the Paristown Pointe neighborhood. “This shows the arrest of Mr. Scheffler, and I will let others draw their own conclusions.”
There is also video of Scheffler being led away in handcuffs.
The mayor said there are other videos showing parts of the incident, but they will not be released until the criminal case is completed, at the request of Jefferson County Prosecutor Mike O’Connell.
Attorney Steve Romines, who represents Scheffler, said: “Our position remains the same as it was last Friday. I am not negotiating because we have no interest to settle. I am preparing to litigate if necessary and case will be dismissed or we’ll make it go to trial because Scottie did absolutely nothing wrong.”
Greenberg said the day began with a “tragic death” just after 5 a.m. that led to a “series of tragic and unfortunate events” that occurred in dark, rainy and intense conditions.
Neither Greenberg nor the chief took questions after the short news conference, and Greenberg would not discuss the criminal case.
“We’re looking to move forward,” he said. “But we have to follow due process. And that’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to let this play out.”
Greenberg said he had no conversations about the case with O’Connell, whose office is prosecuting.
In a statement released Thursday, a spokesperson for the Jefferson County Prosecutor’s Office said “the office has continued to receive evidence and has not yet conducted final interviews with investigators regarding the charges filed by the LMPD against Mr. Scheffler. As previously stated, no decision has been made. have been completed and our review continues.
John Mills of Crestwood was crossing Shelbyville Road around 5 a.m. May 17 to work at Valhalla as a security guard when a shuttle struck and killed him, authorities said. He was 69 years old.
Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 golfer and reigning Masters champion, was arrested and charged with felony assault on a police officer outside the golf course in eastern Jefferson County. He was taken into custody in the city center around 7:30 a.m. after allegedly refusing to stop near the scene of a fatal collision.
Romines, Scheffler’s attorney, said an officer told the golfer to go onto the club grounds, but that Gillis was unaware of that order. Police accuse Scheffler of failing to follow Gillis’ instructions, speeding off and dragging the detective to the ground.
Gillis was taken to the hospital with pain, swelling and abrasions to his left knee and wrist. His uniform pants, estimated to cost $80, “were damaged beyond repair,” according to the arrest report.
Several witnesses said Gillis tried to hold on to Scheffler’s vehicle as it drove slowly forward.
“Scottie didn’t know what was going on,” Romines said.
The arrest report states Gillis was “in full LMPD uniform and a high-visibility yellow reflective rain jacket” when he stopped Scheffler and attempted to give instructions.
Scheffler was originally scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday. During an impromptu hearing in Jefferson Circuit Court on Monday, O’Connell objected to the two-week delay in the arraignment, which is now set for June 3.
O’Connell told Judge Anne Delahanty that a delay would amount to special treatment for Scheffler. Romines, visibly exasperated, argued that legal proceedings are routinely delayed.
Delahanty ruled that a delay was acceptable given that the original arraignment date was scheduled before Romines could check his schedule.
The judge also ruled that Scheffler should be present during the arraignment, which is typically required in a criminal case.
Speaking Tuesday morning, Greenberg called Romines’ request a “routine motion” but declined to say whether he agreed or disagreed with O’Connell’s actions.
Gillis has several commendations and disciplinary violations on his personnel file, including for wrecking his vehicle, missing court and improper pursuit. according to his personal file. Additionally, he was suspended 5 days in 2013 for doing “donuts” in his police vehicle while on duty with a civilian who was intoxicated in a “Code 3” manner.
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