LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) – In a surprising twist, the officer at the center of the Scottie Scheffler case has issued a statement following the dismissal of charges against the pro golfer.
Detective Bryan Gillis expressed gratitude towards Scheffler for his demeanor throughout the ordeal, highlighting the golfer's respectful approach.
“Mr. Scheffler and I both agree that there will be no ill will over this going forward,” Gillis wrote. “Instead of reacting negatively, he chose to speak with dignity, humility, and respect. My family and I appreciate that.”
However, Gillis didn't hold back when addressing the claims made by Scheffler’s high-profile attorney, Steve Romines. During a press conference after the court hearing on Wednesday, Romines claimed that Gillis was never dragged and that it was a “false arrest.”
“It was unfortunate and disturbing to hear Steve Romines’ commentary today—claiming a ‘false arrest’ and challenging my honesty and integrity,” Gillis wrote. “I’d be surprised and disappointed if Mr. Scheffler had any part in making those statements. To be clear, I was dragged by the car, I went to the ground, and I received visible injuries to my knees and wrist. I’m going to recover from it, and it will be okay.”
Romines had also stated that the only reason Scheffler wasn’t suing the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) was to avoid burdening taxpayers.
“He didn’t do anything wrong,” Romines said. “And I’ve said repeatedly, the more evidence that comes out, the more it shows that Scottie was a victim in all this.”
Romines issued a fiery response when questioned about Scheffler’s statements made immediately after the arrest. In a video taken post-Miranda Rights, Scheffler apologized, claiming he didn’t know Gillis was an officer when he tried to stop him. He admitted to being afraid and late for his tee time, thus deciding to move forward.
“Steve, I have to ask you though,” WAVE News Troubleshooters asked, “the statements that Scottie made after the arrest don’t seem to fully align with what you are saying right now. He admits that he got impatient and went too far.”
“No, here’s what happened,” Romines replied. “He was being interrogated after the most stressful situation of his life, and an officer was asking him leading questions trying to get him to agree with him. And that’s why you don’t talk to police.”
Scheffler’s own words after the hearing struck a more conciliatory tone than his attorney’s.
“As I stated previously, this was an unfortunate misunderstanding,” Scheffler wrote. “I hold no ill will toward Officer Gillis. I wish to put this incident behind me and move on, and I hope he will do the same. Police officers have a difficult job and I hold them in high regard. This was a severe miscommunication in a chaotic situation.”
Scheffler also addressed the fatal crash that occurred that morning, emphasizing the gravity of the incident. Gillis echoed those sentiments.
“The reality is there are more important things in the world right now than a back-and-forth over this,” Gillis said. “A person lost his life that day, and a family lost a loved one. At the end of the day, I take pride in working for the people in the community to preserve their safety. I’ve spent two decades trying to protect this city through some challenging times. And I would like to keep doing so without the distractions caused by this series of events. I wish Scottie Scheffler and his family all the best,” Gillis wrote.
In a lighter note, Gillis added a humorous postscript, acknowledging the minor but memorable detail that caught public attention.
“PS…,” Gillis continued. “Yes, the department has us buying freaking $80 pants. To those concerned, they were indeed ruined. But Scottie, it’s all good. I never would’ve guessed I’d have the most famous pair of pants in the country for a few weeks because of this. Take care and be safe.—Bryan.”