Chris Young has been cleared of all charges against him following his arrest at a Midtown Nashville bar. Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk has dismissed the charges of disorderly conduct, resisting arrest (Res. Arr.) and assault on an officer, made against the chart-topping country star.
All Charges Against Chris Young Dismissed
“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,” Funk shared in a statement with Music Mayhem on Friday (Jan. 26).
The charges against Young were dropped after surveillance footage challenged the narrative of the arresting officer’s affidavit, showing the series of events that lead to his arrest, which were much different than what the officer stated in his report.
The “Right Now” singer’s attorney, Bill Ramsey, praised the District Attorney’s decision to dismiss the charges. “Mr. Young and I are gratified with the DA’s decision clearing him of the charges and any wrong-doing,” Ramsey shared.
Young’s legal counsel first condemned his arrest on Wednesday (Jan. 24). At the time, Ramsey told the press, “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.”
Why Was Chris Young Initially Arrested?
The news comes just days after the incident took place. The incident in question occurred at a Midtown Nashville bar where Chris Young was arrested on Monday, January 22, 2024. Young was charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest (Res. Arr.) and assault on an officer, according to an arrest affidavit, obtained by Music Mayhem.
The arresting officer’s initial report indicated that 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.” Additionally, the affidavit also reported that Young had “slurred speech” and “blood shot and watery” eyes.
Surveillance Videos Contradict Arresting Officer’s Statement
However, a video obtained by NewsChannel5 reporter Nick Beres challenged the narrative presented by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) agent in the 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 38-year-old country superstar.
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. 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.”
Young, who was initially released on bond, has now been dismissed of all charges.
What’s Next For Chris Young?
Chris Young is gearing up to release his ninth studio album, Young Love & Saturday Nights, which arrives on March 22 via Sony Music Nashville.
“This is what this album felt like it needed to be for me,” Young shared in a press release. “It’s a little louder, a little more raw. Even the stripped-down songs are heavier. I love creating music and I love making it, and the fact that I get to do that for a living is a pretty incredible thing.”
The project will feature 18 tracks, marking his biggest album yet, including his current Mediabase Top 40 and climbing single “Young Love & Saturday Nights” and “Right Now.” Young Love & Saturday Nights follows the release of Young’s 2021 album, Famous Friends, which spawned the chart-topping hits “Raised On Country,” “Drowning,” “Famous Friends (feat. Kane Brown)” as well as “At The End Of A Bar (feat. Mitchell Tenpenny).”
Following the release of his new album, Young will embark on his highly-anticipated headlining trek, dubbed the Young Love & Saturday Nights 2024 Tour. Young’s tour kicks off on April 25 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and will continue through May 18, where it will wrap up in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The trek will feature special guest Bryan Martin on select dates.
For a full list of Chris Young’s upcoming tour dates and additional information on his new music, visit his official website.
