Photo: Getty Images/Metro Nashville Police Department
Video captured the moment that Chris Young apparently had a run-in with state agents in a Nashville bar that led to his arrest. The country artist, 38, appeared to fall backward as he seemed to block the officials from leaving the bar.
The brief clip, which appears to be the bar's surveillance footage obtained by PEOPLE, shows patrons sitting at the bar in Dawg House Saloon, located in Nashville’s Midtown, as a band appears to cover Billy Currington’s “Good Directions” on Monday night (January 22). Young and several others stepped into the bar, apparently following the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission agents, and appeared to approach the agents again as they walked toward the exit. Young seems to outstretch his arm as the agents are leaving. One of the agent the pushed back, sending Young backward and drawing multiple people toward him and the agents.
Two other brief videos shared by PEOPLE, seemingly filmed by other bar goers, shows Young appear to calmly ask for more information as agents — who reported they didn’t know Young — accused him of assault and said the arrest was “100% legal.” One person filming can be heard countering, “that is not legal. …CY, didn’t hit him.” Another person off-camera can be heard saying, “this is bullsh*t, man.”
Later in the day, Young's attorney issued a statement about the incident and the video evidence.
Alcoholic Beverage Commission agents conducted a compliance check at Tin Roof, located next door to Dawg House, around 8:30 p.m. that night. That’s where the officials first encountered Young, who held his ID above his head. The agents checked Young’s ID, returned it and began to walk away. They answered questions from young, who began to follow and record videos of the agents, reports state. When the Alcoholic Beverage Commission agents left Tin Roof to continue compliance checks next door, Young and several others followed. The arrest affidavit reportedly states that Young “put his hands out to stop (the agent) from leaving the bar and struck (the agent) on the shoulder.” That agent reportedly pushed Young “to create distance,” and there was “yelling and screaming” when multiple people got between them: “While all agents were trying to leave the bar, multiple people who were with Mr. Young started following agents and making the incident hostile.”
Young, whose album Young Love & Saturday Nights is set to release in March, was put in handcuffs and has since been released from custody. He was accused of resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and assault on an officer. He has not publicly commented on the incident as of publication time on Wednesday morning (January 24). PEOPLE noted that Young is set to appear in court on February 16.