Surveillance footage has surfaced, shedding light on the incidents that led to Chris Young’s arrest in a Midtown Nashville bar on Monday evening (Jan. 22). A recently obtained video by NewsChannel 5 reporter Nick Beres appears to challenge the narrative presented by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) agent in the affidavit.
Security Footage Contradicts What Agent Reported On Affidavit
On Tuesday (Jan. 23), Beres took to his Facebook page to share multiple angles of the surveillance videos, offering a closer look at the events leading up to Young’s arrest. In the clip, Young, who is wearing a black leather jacket, is seen chatting with his buddies before the TABC agents, donning normal everyday attire, walked by the “Right Now” singer.
In the video, it appears, as the agents made their way to the Dawg House Saloon exit doors, Young passively touched one of the agents on the arm in a non-violent manner to get his attention. The agent then reacted by pushing Young with significant force, leading him to hit his back on the bar and topple over a bar stool, nearly hitting the floor.
After being forcefully shoved by the agent and nearly falling on the floor, Young composed himself and immediately backed away from the agents and put his hands up in the air, signifying that he didn’t want any trouble.
Young’s Lawyer Bill Ramsey Issues Statement
According to Young’s lawyer, Bill Ramsey, “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 ABC needs to drop the charges and apologize for the physical, emotional and professional harm done towards my client.”
Young was charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest (Res. Arr.) and assault on an officer, according to an arrest affidavit, obtained by Music Mayhem. While the footage did not show Young’s actual arrest or if he resisted, it did clearly reveal that the agent may have exaggerated on his report, overstating that Young “blocked” him from exiting the bar and “put his hands out to stop me from leaving the bar and stuck me on the shoulder.”
Chris Young Arrested
According to the arrest affidavit, agents of the Alcoholic Beverage Commission entered Tin Roof on Demonbreun Street in Midtown Nashville at roughly 8:30PM CT to conduct a compliance check. “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 affidavit reported. After checking Young’s ID via their AgeID application, the agents then gave Young back his identification card, determining it was valid.
“Mr. Young started asking questions that were answered at that time and then began video recording us,” the document continued. “We left the bar after finishing our check and went to Dawg House next door to continue compliance checks.”
“Hostile” Confrontation With TABC Agents Lead To Arrest, According to Reports
The 38-year-old Tennessee native and his group of friends then followed the agents into Dawg House and proceeded to talk with people at the bar as well as the bartenders. After arriving at the Dawg House, agents made their way to the back of the bar to check to assure that the establishment had the appropriate credentials to serve alcohol.
“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 of who Mr. Young was or what he had. 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. SA Amorese started trying to talk to Mr. Young, who began walking backwards and not complying with SA Amorese’s orders.”
The agents then had to “physically detained” Young to put him in handcuffs. Following his arrest, friends of Young began to follow the agents and made the incident become “hostile.”
Charges Are In Pending, Set To Appear In Court In February
Additionally, the affidavit also reported that Young had “slurred speech” and “blood shot and watery” eyes. Young, who was born on June 12, 1985, as Christopher Alan Young, has since been released on bond. The case remains open with pending charges against the country singer, who is expected to appear in court in front of Judge Lynda Jones on Friday, February 16, 2024, at 10:30AM.
Chris Young has yet to comment on the situation.
