Chris Young opens up on his arrest at a Nashville bar, says he is grateful to everyone who ‘had my back’
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE: Country singer Chris Young has broken his silence on the “false accusations” that led to his arrest for allegedly assaulting an officer at a Nashville bar.
The charges were dropped a few days later after surveillance footage showed a different story.
What happened at the DawgHouse Saloon with Chris Young?
The 'I’m Comin’ Over' singer was arrested on January 22 by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC) after a confrontation with an agent at the DawgHouse Saloon.
He was charged with three misdemeanors – disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and assault on officer offensive contact.
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According to the arrest affidavit, the incident started when Young and some friends followed the ABC agents from Tin Roof, where they had been sitting at the bar, to the DawgHouse Saloon.
Young allegedly asked questions and filmed the agents on his phone as they were conducting a compliance check.
The affidavit claimed that Young “put his hands out to stop” the agent from leaving the bar and “struck him on the shoulder.”
The agent then pushed Young back and other bar patrons intervened. Young was handcuffed and detained after he “refused to comply” with the officers while his friends made the “situation hostile as MEAWW reported earlier.
The affidavit also said that Young had bloodshot watery eyes and slurred speech, implying that he was intoxicated.
How did Chris Young prove his innocence?
However, Young’s attorney Bill Ramsey disputed the allegations and said that surveillance videos from the bar showed that Young did not assault the officer or resist arrest.
He said that Young was “peaceful and cooperative” throughout the encounter and that the agent was the one who initiated the physical contact.
Ramsey said in a statement on January 24, “What happened to my client Chris Young at a bar in Nashville on Monday night was wrong and he never should have been arrested and charged in the first place."
"In light of the video evidence, Tennessee [Alcoholic Beverage Commission] needs to drop the charges and apologize for the physical, emotional, and professional harm done toward my client," the statement added.
After reviewing the evidence, the Davidson County District Attorney’s Office dismissed the charges against Young on January 25, saying that there was “insufficient proof” to prosecute him.
What did Chris Young say to his fans?
Young took to social media on February 1 to thank his fans and friends for their support and to announce the release of a new song from his upcoming album, FOX News reports.
He said that he was still processing the ordeal but that he was relieved to see the charges get dropped.
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“Hey guys, so I just wanted to say something. You know, I’m still processing a lot through the false accusations and everything that went on in the past week. But I wanted to say first and foremost, thank you to everybody that had my back," he said.
"It meant the world to me and I had so many friends and fans reach out and say ‘we got you, we don’t believe you did any of this.’ So it’s really nice to see the charges get dismissed,” he added in a video message.
He continued that he wanted to give his fans a gift as a token of his appreciation and that he was dropping a new song called 'Double Down' at midnight.
“It’s not something I wish anybody has to go through ever. But, like I said, the bright spot was seeing just all the love and support," he added.
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"So what I wanted to do as a thank you to you guys – because this was not planned – is drop a new song from the album so you guys will have something to listen to. We’re going to put out 'Double Down’ at midnight and I really hope you guys enjoy this one. Crank it up, enjoy it - I appreciate you, I love you, and thank you,” he said.
