Photo: Getty Images
All charges against Chris Young, who was arrested following an incident at a Nashville bar earlier this week, have been dropped. Young, 38, was accused of resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and assault on an officer.
Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk announced in a statement on Friday evening (January 26) that the charges against the country music star have been dismissed following a review of the evidence in connection with the incident, including security camera footage from the bar. Funk said in a statement: “Regarding the Chris Young incident — After review of all the evidence in this case, the Office of the District Attorney has determined that these charges will be dismissed.”
Young’s attorney, Bill Ramsey, said in a statement that he and the country artist “are gratified with the DA’s decision clearing him of the charges and any wrong-doing.”
On Monday night (January 22), Alcoholic Beverage Commission agents reported that they’d encountered Young at Tin Roof, located on Demonbreun Street in Midtown Nashville, as they conducted a compliance check around 8:30 p.m. The agents reported that they checked Young’s ID, returned it and moved on. Young apparently began asking the agents questions and recording videos of them. The agents confined compliance checks next door, at Dawg House Saloon, where young and several others reportedly followed.
“While walking out the door Mr. Young put his hands out to stop me from leaving the bar and struck me on the shoulder,” reported an agent, who said he pushed Young “to create distance,” and then there was “yelling and screaming,” when multiple people tried to get between the agent and Young. A report states: “While all agents were trying to leave the bar, multiple people who were with Mr. Young started following agents and making the incident hostile.”
Video evidence shared later in the week, however, raised questions about what happened that night. Video captured Young and others arriving at the bar, and as the agents appear to move toward the exit to leave, Young seems to outstretch his arm in front of an agent. That agent pushed back, and Young, who is 6’4’’, fell backward.
“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,” Ramsey said in a statement on Wednesday (January 24). “In light of the video evidence, Tennessee ABC needs to drop the charges and apologize for the physical, emotional and professional harm done towards my client.”
Prior to the incident, Young announced that his ninth full-length studio album, Young Love & Saturday Nights, would release in March. The 18-track collection is Young’s largest project to date. He’ll kick off his headlining “Young Love & Saturday Nights Tour” in April. The album is due on March 22.