A police officer from Louisville Metro, who neglected to switch on his body camera during the arrest of PGA golfer Scottie Scheffler, was arrested on Friday morning on charges of theft and misconduct.

Officer Javar Downs has been put on emergency suspension with restricted police authority, and Chief Paul Humphrey has initiated the process to dismiss Downs from the police force, according to a statement from LMPD communications director Angela Ingram.

“We take accusations of officer wrongdoing very seriously. LMPD emphasizes accountability and is dedicated to conducting comprehensive and prompt investigations for the benefit of all involved,” Ingram mentioned in an email.

Downs has been charged with unlawfully taking over $1,000 and misconduct in office. He is currently under investigation by the Public Integrity Unit of LMPD.

Ingram stated that the investigation was triggered by a civilian’s complaint alleging theft. The individual, whose name remains confidential, was arrested by Downs on Wednesday.

Downs works in the LMPD Traffic Unit and was at the scene during Scheffler’s widely publicized arrest in May. He acknowledged in a report about his failure to record that he did not activate his body camera during the incident, noting that the missing footage would have shown Scheffler being extracted from his vehicle and taken into custody.

LMPD’s regulations mandate that officers must turn on their body cameras “before engaging in any law enforcement activities or encounters,” with the only exception being if their camera is “docked for uploading after a shift.”

Most LMPD supervisors cited in the report criticized both Downs and Watkins for failing to activate their cameras, which is against policy. However, Downs’ direct supervisor, Robert Ward, stated he could not activate his equipment due to the “rapidly deteriorating situation” and his obligation to provide timely assistance.

Scheffler was arrested on May 17, facing charges of second-degree assault, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and ignoring signals from an officer directing traffic. His charges were dismissed less than two weeks after his arrest.