NEW PHOTOS: LMPD just released a new report about the Scottie Scheffler incident, and it includes photos of Det. Bryan Gillis’ injuries and his ripped pants.
NEW PHOTOS: LMPD just released a new report about the Scottie Scheffler incident, and it includes photos of Det. Bryan Gillis’ injuries and his ripped pants.
The arrest of top golfer Scottie Scheffler outside the PGA Championship in Louisville shocked the world.
On Friday, Louisville Metro Police released more unseen footage and documents from his arrest last month, including body camera video from the detective involved.
LMPD did not initially release all available video due to the possibility of a trial, but is now making it public since his charges were dropped.
None of it includes the initial moments, but some of the video comes from Det. Bryan Gillis’ body camera from after. Watch in the player below:
Gillis has claimed Scheffler dragged him. No other videos have supported that claim, and the Commonwealth’s attorney stated no evidence did.
In the newly-released video, you see Gillis approach Scheffler while he’s detained in a cruiser.
Scheffler: “Are you the officer I dragged? I’m sorry. Sir, I did not know you were a police officer. I’m terribly sorry.”
Gillis: “I mean you hurt my wrist, my ankle, my knee and ripped my pants. … I’m directing traffic. It says police on me.”
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We asked Scheffler’s attorney, Steve Romines, about that exchange, and he said, “At that time, he wasn’t sure what had happened and had been told the false story from the citation that is contradicted by multiple eye witnesses and video. He was merely trying to pacify the situation.”
Other LMPD officers in the area during the incident admitted their view of the interaction was obscured by a bus. In other words, no other officer fully witnessed what occurred.
Gillis was found in violation of policy for not turning his body camera on sooner.
The new report reveals two other officers, Kelvin Watkins and Javar Downs, were also issued violations for not activating theirs.
The report also gives this in-depth “investigative” account of the incident:
“Eventually, Detective Gillis, having determined Mr. Scheffler was refusing to follow lawful orders from an officer directing traffic, grabbed Mr. Scheffler’s left arm and attempted to open the driver’s door of the vehicle while giving verbal commands to put the car in park and step out.
“Mr. Scheffler then accelerated forward with Detective Gillis’s hand pinned. Detective Gillis was able to run along side the vehicle briefly, while yelling for help before being dragged to the ground.
“Mr. Scheffler then stopped the vehicle and Detective Gillis was able to remove him from the vehicle and place him in custody without further incident.”
In additional video, you can hear Scheffler say, “As he was reaching into my car, he grabbed my shoulder and me.”
An LMPD lieutenant notes put a note about that in the report:
“Not a violation of policy, but tactically poor decision making by Det. Gillis regarding reaching into a vehicle that is running, is in drive, and the operator has the ability to pull away/accelerate. Whether Gillis grabbed Mr. Scheffler’s arm, or Mr. Scheffler ‘pinned’ Gillis’s arm with his knee is immaterial had Gillis not crossed the plain into the vehicle’s passenger compartment,” the lieutenant says.
That same lieutenant made mention of Scheffler saying he was told to drive the way he did. He says that doesn’t alleviate Scheffler from following immediate directions, saying, quote, “Mr. Scheffler also shares the responsibility in this event.”
The report also provided several never-seen photos from the scene, including Gillis’ injuries, his ripped pants and Scheffler before he was taken to jail:
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