Country music artist Chris Young was arrested after an alleged confrontation with Tennessee Alcohol Beverage Commission (TABC) agents at a bar in Nashville, Tennessee, on Monday evening.
The “I’m Coming Over” singer was released early Tuesday morning on a $2,500 bond, according to the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office inmate records.
What Happened?
The incident reportedly began at about 8:30 p.m. when the TABC agents walked into the Tin Roof bar in downtown Nashville to make compliance checks, Country Now reported.Mr. Young, sitting inside the bar, was asked to show his identification to one of the agents.
“When we walked into the bar, a man sitting at the bar, later found to be Mr. Young, had his ID in his hand above his head,” the arrest affidavit stated, according to Country Now.
After the agents verified his ID, they continued with their compliance checks.
But then, the “Raised on Country” singer allegedly began questioning and video recording the agents.
“Mr. Young started asking questions that were answered at that time and then began video recording us,” the agents wrote in their report. “We left the bar after finishing our check and went to the Dawg House next door to continue compliance checks.”
Mr. Young, along with some of his friends, left the Tin Roof and followed the agents into the Dawg House, where they spoke to others in the establishment.
The agents proceeded with their compliance checks before leaving the bar, but Mr. Young reportedly tried to stop them.
“While walking out the door, Mr. Young put his hands out to stop me from leaving the bar and struck me on the shoulder,” the affidavit said. “I then pushed Mr. Young to create distance since I had no idea who Mr. Young was or what he had.”
At that point, some customers at the bar reportedly got between Mr. Young and the TABC agent and started “yelling and screaming,” WKRN-TV reported.
Another agent tried to speak with Mr. Young, but he allegedly began walking backward and refusing to comply with their orders.
Two agents reportedly had to physically detain Mr. Young before placing him under arrest.
When the agents were walking away with the handcuffed singer, several people who were with Mr. Young at the bar started following the agents and “making the incident hostile,” according to the documents.
Mr. Young’s eyes were watery and bloodshot, and his speech was slurred, the agents noted.
Mr. Young’s arrest comes less than two weeks after releasing his latest song, “Right Now.” The track is one of 18 tunes that will appear on his ninth and largest studio album, “Young Love & Saturday Nights,” scheduled for release on March 22 via Sony Music Nashville.
Mr. Young had not publicly commented on his arrest at the time of publication.