Charges against a country star alleged to have assaulted an officer were dropped after footage of the barroom incident tempered the tale.
Monday night in Nashville, Tennessee, 38-year-old country music star Chris Young had a run-in with agents from the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission that landed him under arrest after allegedly trying to prevent them from departing the Demonbreun Street establishment Dawg House Saloon.
Brought in after 10 p.m. and hit with charges of disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and assault of an officer, the “Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song)” singer was released on $2,500 bond hours later, and by Friday the charges were dismissed after video appeared hardly supportive of TABC agent Joseph Phillips’ report.
“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,” Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk said in a statement Friday.
— District Attorney (@DavidsonCoDA) January 27, 2024
As it had happened, the musician and several associates had encountered the agents at the Tin Roof as they made their rounds before following them to the Dawg House. It was there that Phillips had stated in an affidavit that Young struck him as he attempted to leave the routine compliance check, prompting the agent to push him to create distance.
“Once that happened most of the patrons of the bar got up and got between TABC Agents and Mr. Young and began yelling and screaming,” wrote Phillips. “While all agents were trying to leave the bar multiple people that were with Mr. Young started following agents and making the incident hostile.”
However, footage from within the saloon depicting multiple angles of the incident, which did not include audio of dialogue, appeared to show an aggressive response to a casual motion by Young who was forced back into the corner of the bar sending him falling to the ground.
WATCH: 4 different angles from the bar where Chris Young was arrested on Monday night. pic.twitter.com/lY4Q6GDKBR
— Taste of Country (@TasteOfCountry) January 25, 2024
“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,” an initial statement from attorney William Ramsey to the media had said. “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.”
After getting back to his feet, the musician, who was said to have had bloodshot eyes and slurred speech according to court filings, endeavored to keep his distance from the agents while others could be seen interceding in the incident.
Following the decision from Funk, Ramsey issued a new statement that said, “Mr. Young and I are gratified with the DA’s decision clearing him of the charges and any wrong-doing.”
In their own statement, TABC expressed, “We respect General Funk’s decision to drop the charges against Mr. Young. All law enforcement and first responders deserve to be safe while on duty. For your safety and theirs, we ask the public to not make physical contact or interfere with officers while they are working.”
Reactions to the dismissal were overwhelmingly supportive of Young and demanded accountability for the agents who had arrested the musician.
Any retraining of officers who incited this and then lied?
— wade long (@menotallofyou) January 27, 2024
So happy charges were dropped,they need to charge the officer!
— Celeste jaworski (@CelesteJaworski) January 27, 2024
What about the Police officer?
— David Bouquillon (@DBouquillon13) January 27, 2024
Now let’s see the DA charge the officer with falsifying a report and false arrest.
— Kris L. (@ttiger2004) January 27, 2024
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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