Getty Image / Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire
In a karmic twist of fate, the officer who arrested Scottie Scheffler prior to his round at Day 2 of the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucy, officer Javar Downs, was himself just arrested on charges of theft and misconduct.
The Louisville, Kentucky-based Courier-Journal broke the news of Officer Javar Downs being arrested on Friday after LMPD communications director Angela Ingram shared the news in a prepared statement.
Ingram said “allegations of officer malfeasance are taken very seriously. LMPD prioritizes accountability and remains committed to conducting thorough and expedient investigations in the best interests of all parties involved.”
Louisville Metro Police Department
Officer Downs arrested Scottie Scheffler back in May prior to Round 2 of the PGA Championship. Those charges were later dropped after it became abundantly clear from video evidence, eyewitnesses, and character references that it was all an extreme misunderstanding and Scheffler was simply trying to get to the clubhouse.
LMPD Officer Javar Downs was officially charged with “theft by unlawfully taking more than $1,000” and “official misconduct” according to the Courier-Journal. This came after allegations were lobbied against Officer Downs through a civilian complaint and an investigation was launched.
BREAKING: @LMPD Officer Javar Downs, one of the 3 officers who did not turn on their bodycams during the Scottie Scheffler arrest, was arrested himself this morning. Police say he pocketed $4k in money that he seized from a suspect being booked into jail. @wave3news pic.twitter.com/yO2mBllCCh
— Ward Jolles (@wardjolles) August 23, 2024
Officer Downs faced major scrutiny at the time of Scottie Scheffler’s arrest after failing to activate this body camera, a procedure that is required of all LVPD officers. Unless an LMPD officer’s body camera is “docked for uploading following a tour of duty” they must activate them “prior to engaging in all law enforcement activities and encounters.”
This policy was under the national spotlight following the killing of Breonna Taylor in 2020 and Louisville Officers are, of course, aware of the national scrutiny, another reason Officer Downs’ failure to activate his body camera received so much attention.
An investigation will now be conducted by the Public Integrity Unit of the Louisville Metro Police.