Charges Against Chris Young Dropped After Nashville Bar Arrest

All charges have been dismissed against Chris Young following an alleged altercation the country singer-songwriter had with Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission agents on Monday evening in Nashville (Jan. 22), which resulted in Young’s arrest. Young had been charged with resisting arrest, assaulting an officer and disorderly conduct, all misdemeanors.

Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk issued a statement on Friday (Jan. 26), stating, “Regarding the Chris Young incident–After a review of all the evidence in this case, the Office of the District Attorney has determined that these charges will be dismissed.” The charges were dropped after a review of evidence, including security camera footage.

According to WSMV and The Tennessean, an arrest affidavit claimed that around 8:30 p.m. on Monday evening, ABC agents entered the Tin Roof bar in Nashville to conduct a compliance check, which included checking the musician’s ID. The affidavit claimed that Young also approached the men and began asking them questions (which they answered), and he later began videotaping them. The affidavit went on to say that Young and his friends then followed the agents to the Dawg House.

After the agents checked IDs and began to leave the second bar, Young allegedly put his hands out to stop them from leaving the bar, and “struck” an agent on the shoulder, according to local news reports, citing the arrest affidavit that also states the agent pushed Young to create distance between them. The affidavit, according to reports, also notes that patrons of the bar got between the agents and Young, and the musician “began walking backwards and not complying with” the agents’ orders, and they eventually detained and put him in handcuffs.

However, video camera security footage from the Dawg House, which was obtained by Nashville’s NewsChannel 5 and shared on reporter Nick Beres’ Facebook account, showed a different story, seeming to depict an ABC agent shoving Young to the floor after he reached out to one of the agents. The musician gets up, puts his hands in the air and backs away from the agents, while other patrons in the bar come between him and the agents. One of the agents then moves in to speak with Young. A second video shows the same, but from a different angle.

Young’s attorney Bill Ramsey said via a statement on Friday, “Mr. Young and I are gratified with the DA’s decision clearing him of the charges and any wrong-doing.”

Young is gearing up for the release of his ninth studio album, Young Love & Saturday Nights, which will release March 22 via Sony Music Nashville.