LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1-ranked player in the world and winner of The Masters last month, was handcuffed and charged with felony assault of a police officer at Valhalla Golf Club after allegedly refusing to stop at the scene of a fatal accident at the course entrance.

Scheffler was charged at about 7:30 a.m. with felony assault of a police officer, criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding signals from officers directing traffic, according to court records.  

He was deemed a low risk and released on his own recognizance, ordered not to have any contact with the alleged victim or complaining witness. 

A spokesman for the Jefferson County Attorney's office said they are "still obtaining information in the case of Mr. Scheffler and will review and proceed accordingly.”

Scheffler, who said it was a "chaotic situation and a big misunderstanding," is scheduled to appear in Jefferson District Court on May 21.

The start of the tournament on Friday was delayed one hour after a pedestrian was hit and killed by a shuttle bus traveling east on Shelbyville Road outside the entrance to the club around 5 a.m. The bus was operating in its dedicated lane traveling east. All shuttles have been suspended and Shelbyville road was closed for an investigation of the accident.

Scheffler's attorney: "he did 'nothing wrong"

Attorney Steve Romines, a high-profile Kentucky lawyer who is representing Scheffler, said one police officer directed Scheffler to go around and into the facility, but the arresting officer was unaware and stopped the golfer. 

"He was trying to get into the facility when he was arrested," Romines said. "Scottie didn't know what was going on."

Romines said Scheffler pulled over and was arrested. 

"There are eyewitnesses that he did nothing wrong," Romines said.  “He’s in a marked vehicle. He has his credentials visible. An officer directed him what to do: Go around (in the far left lane) and turn left. (That) officer directed him to veer into the westbound lane to go into Valhalla.

“The arresting officer took issue with that and wound up bringing these charges … they arrested him the way they arrest anybody.”

Scheffler will play in the rest of the tournament, Romines added. 

Arrest report details

In an arrest report, police claim Scheffler was driving “eastbound to gain access to the course" at Valhalla Gate 1 when he pulled into a westbound lane "where outbound traffic was flowing and to avoid backed up traffic."

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Detective Bryan Gillis was "in full LMPD uniform and a hi-visibility yellow reflective rain jacket" when he stopped Scheffler and "attempted to give instructions", according to the report. 

"Subject refused to comply and accelerated forward, dragging Detective Gillis to the ground," police allege in the arrest report.

The officer was taken to the hospital with pain, swelling and abrasions to his left knee and wrist. His uniform pants, which were estimated to have cost $80, "were damaged beyond repair," according to the arrest report. 

"That is false," Romines said of Scheffler dragging a police officer. 

The felony charge is punishable by between five and 10 years in prison.

Scottie Scheffler was booked into Louisville Metro Corrections about 7:30 a.m. Friday, and was released on his own recognizance a short time later.

Louisville Metro Police statement

A Louisville police spokesman released a statement Friday afternoon saying that "while an officer was directing traffic, an encounter with a motorist attempting to make entry into a restricted area ultimately led to the driver being arrested. We are in the process of conducting a thorough investigation. We are appreciative that all parties involved are fully cooperating.”

Jeff Darlington of ESPN posted on social media at 6:35 a.m. that a police officer grabbed onto Scheffler’s car as it entered Valhalla and Scheffler stopped.

“The police officer then began to scream at Scheffler to get out of the car,” Darlington said in a post on the social media site X. “When Scheffler exited the vehicle, the officer shoved Scheffler against the car and immediately placed him in handcuffs. He is now being detained in the back of a police car.”

Scheffler statement 

Scheffler was charged with a felony assault of a police officer earlier in the day.

Scheffler said in a statement on social media: “This morning, I was proceeding as directed by police officers. It was a very chaotic situation, understandably so considering the tragic accident that had occurred earlier, and there was a big misunderstanding of what I thought I was being asked to do. I never intended to disregard any of the instructions.

"I’m hopeful to put this to the side and focus on golf today. Of course, all of us involved in the tournament express our deepest sympathies to the family of the man who passed away in the earlier accident this morning. It truly puts everything in perspective."

He later said he was doing his "best to diffuse the situation, really. I was sitting there (in the police car) trying to stay calm. . . . I did numerous apologies. It was chaotic, it was dark. They'd just had an accident. . . . My heart goes out to the family."

While in jail, for about an hour, Scheffler said he "did do some stretching. That was a first for me. . . . I was fortunate to be able to make it back out and play some golf today. My main focus after getting arrested was wondering if I could come back out here and play."

In an effort to help him calm down, Scheffler said police officers joked around and were very friendly. 

"I was never angry," he said. "I was just in shock, and I think my body was just -- I was shaking the whole time. I was shaking for like an hour."

He said they gave him a sandwich. 

"I'm grateful that we have such strong police, and they're our protectors out there, and like I said, we just got into a chaotic situation this morning. That's really all it was."

Louisville mayor statement

In a statement, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said it is "unfortunate that an incident took place between an LMPD officer and Mr. Scheffler while he was attempting to enter Valhalla. LMPD is fully investigating this incident and the legal process will proceed. We appreciate everyone's cooperation." 

Scheffler Thursday's first round of the tournament tied for 12th, five strokes off the lead at -4. He came into the tournament a heavy favorite to win it and a week ago became a new father. Scheffler said he did not drop his name to police. 

ESPN reporters witness arrest

Darlington and ESPN's Dave Fleming were attempting to get into Valhalla when the incident happened and witnessed it. They said that Scheffler was detained and driven off. Darlington said a police officer told him, "There's nothing you can do, he's going to jail."

Speaking on ESPN's SportsCenter, Fleming said players were told they would be able to enter the facility, and many were, but Scheffler, driving an official PGA vehicle, turned into the gates when told not to. As the car continued to roll slowly through, Darlington said an officer grabbed onto the car. Scheffler stopped, rolled his window down, and Darlington said the officer reached into the window, opened the door and pulled the player out of the car.

Darlington said Scheffler told the officer he did not realize that he was a police officer, but that the officer was upset and did not respond. Darlington said that officers were wearing yellow rain gear.

"It was heated," Fleming said. "It was charged in the moment."

Darlington said PGA Security tried to intervene but wasn't given access to the scene.

Andy North, a former PGA Tour professional, said on ESPN, "Small confrontations happen quite frequently trying to get in and out of the property at a golf events because there's so many people trying to get in and out. Everybody's trying to talk their way in. And sometimes situations happen like this, but very seldom do you have a huge police force. Usually it's more security guards, rent-a-cops, as we call them that are part of those situations."

ESPN's Michael Collins, at Valhalla, said on SportsCenter that "there's still a lot of confusion going on."

This story may be updated. 

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