Chris Young Fought The Law, and Won

It’s a strange situation for a website like Saving Country Music to be asked to step up and defend a country music artist such as Chris Young. Speaking exclusively about his music, Young’s career has charted one of those unfortunate trajectories where he started out with a great country sound and significant promise, only to fall into chasing the pop country superstar dream, and releasing subpar music just to land radio hits and keep a major label deal.
But when it comes to personal matters and especially legal ones, you have to toss all of that aside. Wrong is wrong, and from the very start, it was clear something was wrong about Chris Young’s arrest on January 22nd for disorderly conduct, assaulting an officer, and resisting arrest, even before video footage of the incident began to emerge, directly refuting the characterizations of the arresting officer from the affidavit.
Nobody should put their hands on an officer, and most certainly it is hard for law enforcement to go out there every day, put their literal lives on the line, and not be pushy and aggressive with the public. But this felt like a situation we see in society too often where an officer feels the need to arrest a private citizen just to save face, when in fact they are the ones that overreacted in a situation.
Chris Young has now been cleared of all the charges by Nashville District Attorney Glen Funk, who said in a statement on Friday (1-26), “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.”
It’s good that Chris Young has been cleared of all charges. But it’s not before his mug shot was distributed all across the internet, he had to spend time behind bars, he had to post a bond, and a lawyer had to get involved. Sure, the charges against Young were relatively simple misdemeanors. But it begs the question, if Chris Young wasn’t a celebrity, would the charges have been dropped so expeditiously? Would the press have scrutinized the incident so thoroughly?
During a compliance check by Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission officers at the Tin Roof in Nashville where Young was drinking, he started to ask the compliance officers questions, and then proceeded to follow them around the bar as they checked the IDs of other patrons. When the officers left the Tin Roof and went next door to the Dawg House, Young and others continued to follow the officers. When the officers went to leave the Dawg House, Young addressed them.
The fact that the sworn affidavit from the arresting officer said that Chris Young “stuck” him while he was leaving the Dawg House never made sense. It was almost like they were trying to walk a fine line of not wanting to lie, but also needing to embellish the seriousness of the situation to justify the arrest.
Now that the charges are dropped, and now that we have seen video of the situation, it appears that Chris Young was actually using his position as a celebrity to stand up for what he was worried at the time might be an overreach by law enforcement, or perhaps something else.
According to Young (through his lawyers), the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission officers took a picture of his ID, which they shouldn’t be allowed to do. The fact that they were in plain clothes also led to Young and others scrutinizing the situation, and deciding to take action by simply asking the officers who they were.
The Chris Young situation was made right. But for many private citizens in similar situations without the resources or benefits of cameras that Chris Young had, it remains wrong.
In 2023, Saving Country Music reported on the killing of 4-time Grammy-winning producer and engineer Mark Capps, who was shot through a closed door by Metro Nashville Police Officers while serving warrants where the information has also been disputed. Unfortunately for Capps and his family, the press didn’t scrutinize the situation like they should have, and Nashville District Attorney Glen Funk didn’t take the type of corrective action many believe should have been taken. Capps was a Grammy winner, but not a household name like Chris Young.
Though the music of Chris Young is still what it is, it’s hard to not give him credit in this situation. It makes Young look even more “Outlaw” than if he’d just gotten punchy in a bar and was arrested legitimately. He fought the law, and won.
January 27, 2024 @ 10:05 am
Good for Young. Sadly, the answer to your question about whether not not this would have ever been set right if he weren’t a celebrity is NO.
January 30, 2024 @ 8:21 pm
If Young laid a hand on the cop while following him around, then I can’t get outraged that the officers arrested him at the scene. It’s hardly an unreasonable response.
January 27, 2024 @ 10:08 am
I seriously want to see video footage of the initial contact that ABC Officers made with Young in the Tin Roof bar. If they violated the Forth Amendment in that exchange, especially so if it contradicts the claims they made in the affidavit, it needs to be publicized.
January 27, 2024 @ 1:49 pm
Of course they violated his 4th amendment rights. Cops nowadays are addicted to IDs like a damn drug addict. Once somebody stands up to their BS, their fragile ego takes a huge hit and shit like this happens. Hopefully, Young sues these clowns and the city for violating his civil rights.
January 28, 2024 @ 8:31 am
My fellow conservatives don’t realize that they are playing into big government hands when they push the Blue Lives Matter movement.
Cops will be the first ones to turn tyrant when the orders come down.
These incidents prove it. I am glad Young won and justice prevailed.
January 29, 2024 @ 9:07 pm
Completely agree. The good cops are the ones who will quit first when they are being pushed to do the wrong thing, and only the shitty ones will remain. This happened to a degree during all the covid authoritarian shit in 2020-2021.
January 27, 2024 @ 10:20 am
I saw the video. He put his hand on the cops shoulder as he walked by. If a drunk with whom I have already had words decides to put his hand on my shoulder as I am walking by, I would push him away, as the cop did. Just because this dumbass was drunk and couldn’t keep his balance is not my problem. It looked like a one handed push back, not that big of a deal. The fact that it is a cop, the push back should be more than expected. Arrest is a bit excessive, but dude got the push back he deserved.
January 27, 2024 @ 12:49 pm
Hope you’re not a cop, because if you are you’re a prime example of everything wrong with law enforcement in the US.
January 27, 2024 @ 2:43 pm
Dealing with ignorant, entitled, cop-hating self-absorded snowflakes like you?
Young was drunk, belligerent, and acted like a total tool. Too bad his ‘celebrity’ status got him off.
January 28, 2024 @ 7:42 am
Acknowledging that there are bad actors in ANY field (including law enforcement) does not make you a snow flake or a “cop hater”.
If officers cannot handle a drunk or belligerent person properly, they should not be in the field.
The people who want to abolish police are stupid, but so are people like you that just assume 100% of officers are totally awesome and correct 100% of the time and should never be scrutinized or questioned for their actions.
You live in a fantasy world.
January 28, 2024 @ 8:25 am
I never said all LEO were ‘angels’.
‘..police should know how to handle drunk people’?
LOL
They did exactly that; they arrested him for interfering with their legally allowed work.
Young used his ‘fame’ as a get out of jail free card to act like a dick.
Having actually OWNED a bar, ABC officers can come in anytime they like to check for violations.I’ve never had a problem, and if I did, I’d toss the drunk(s) out. The bar & server were lucky in Young’s case, because they could have been fined for continuing to serve an intoxicated person.Young goes out afterward and kills someone drunk driving and who do his lawyers come after, the bar.
If you don’t agree with the law, write your legislatures instead of whining.
January 30, 2024 @ 4:33 am
Having a meltdown like Frank is in this comment section?
That’s what a snowflake looks like.
January 28, 2024 @ 11:08 am
These “cops” are a joke. They had no reason to take a photo of his I.D. Anyone supporting this kind of behaviour by law enforcement is in fact the tool here.
There are good and bad cops. Unfortunately too many officers believe they have unfettered power and can use it any way they wish. These clowns need to be washed out and replaced with mentally stable people.
January 28, 2024 @ 12:19 pm
The only immature tool here is you, snowflake.
Mom & dad should’ve disciplined you instead of telling you the world revolves around you.
Hopefully some (or all) of Young’s sponsors cut ties with this knob.
January 28, 2024 @ 8:06 pm
They were give the power to check IDs by elected officials.
January 28, 2024 @ 1:16 pm
“ Young was drunk, belligerent, and acted like a total tool. Too bad his ‘celebrity’ status got him off.”
In all likelihood, Mr. Young had his civil liberties violated when ABC Agent Fitzpatrick initiated contact with him and demanded to scan his ID – in absence of reasonable suspicion that a crime was being committed – which is a direct infringement of his rights as enumerated by the Fourth Amendment. The affidavit claims he already had it in his hand above his head when they entered the bar. Unlikely. The affidavit also completely neglects to disclose whether or not ABC Agents asked or commanded Mr. Young to give them his ID. Yet somehow, mysteriously, it ended up in SA Fitzpatrick’s hand. As law enforcement, if you are “belligerent” with the Constitutional rights and protections of the citizenry, you can expect pushback.
If I were a Tennessee resident, I would have already requested public records showing how many ID’s were confiscated and scanned at the Tin Roof by ABC Agents in addition to Mr. Young’s. If they all were, it’s game on.
January 28, 2024 @ 5:13 pm
As stated previously; good thing you aren’t an attorney.
January 28, 2024 @ 7:42 am
No one should ever lay hands on a cop. The cop does not know you and your intentions. The arrest was absolutly BS on the other hand. cops 50 and younger have very fragile egos.
March 7, 2024 @ 2:13 pm
Frank Russo you are a idiot
January 29, 2024 @ 9:27 pm
I watched the video and it’s not completely black and white. I do think the cop acted excessively, BUT even if you think you are in the right, you do not touch a police officer. Maybe I’m missing the part of whether or not Chris knew they were police because I hardly care enough to read into this issue. Police regularly have to enter situations that are potentially life and death scenarios, especially in Nashville so there is rightfully an expectation for how civilians are to interact with them. I’m not a thin blue line’r, because I have a big problem with blind govt allegiance, but I can also see the flip side of not enough police. It’s not a virtue to only see things in a childishly cartoon simple way and pine for some utopian vision that has never happened in history.
I’ve had several interractions with Nashville police and all of them were pleasent. In one of them I even had to tell the officer at the door that I had a handgun on the table, when I answered the door. The other was when a cop came to my door after I called the police on a neighbor (who turned out to be a regular crazy dude) who threatened to get his gun when I told him to fuck off when he told me to where a mask when I was walking down the street. (If anyone wasn’t sure where I stood on the issue)
January 27, 2024 @ 2:37 pm
The issue is not the push. The issue is that Chris Young ended up arrested.
January 27, 2024 @ 3:06 pm
Did things esculate after the push?
The video stops with Chris getting up from the ground with his hands up. But if he started talking smack to the agent… then maybe the arrest was waranted?
Seems like things esculated by the fans around the situation. Maybe the agent thought Chris was the “leader” of this group of ppl. That he represented the ppl ?? And it was easier to arrest him rather than 20 ppl.
January 27, 2024 @ 11:33 am
As always journalists should never take a police report at face value. Glad to see this site cover this so well. Unfortunately many reporters are more interested in being police stenographers than trying to discover the truth
January 27, 2024 @ 1:33 pm
To many cops ! Nazis no cop or abc person should be able to walk into a bar n ask for id – to much control
These courts are dirty as can be the cops is out of control, politicians can creat jobs so they create stupid laws ! To lock up people for $ damn crooks
January 27, 2024 @ 2:34 pm
From the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission website:
The TABC’s agents focus a great deal of their efforts on preventing underage sales of alcoholic beverages to minors. Minor compliance checks of licensed establishments are conducted on regular basis to prevent underage sales of alcoholic beverages.
Who would want a job where you are assigned to regularly check bars, in Nashville of all places, for underage drinking? That sounds like a job you’d get in Hell for getting on the devil’s bad side.
January 27, 2024 @ 3:13 pm
Tennessee Code states:
“Minor” means any person who has not attained eighteen (18) years of age (Title 50)
“Child” means: A person under eighteen (18) years of age (Title 37)
“Adult” means any person eighteen (18) years of age or older (Title 37)
“The TABC’s agents focus a great deal of their efforts on preventing underage sales of alcoholic beverages to minors”
So, by the State of Tennessee’s own definitions, the majority of these so-called “ Minor compliance checks” are actually targeting “Adults” who have not (arbitrarily) reached the age of 21 years. The Agency also employs legal adults age 18-20 to attempt to purchase alcoholic beverages in bars, restaurants, and stores in order to cite, fine, and charge these businesses.
If they are legally adults, then any attempt to limit their choices and activities, as adults, is a direct attack on their personal freedom, liberty, and individual sovereignty.
January 27, 2024 @ 6:35 pm
I think you misunderstood my post. I was pointing out that some poor bastards have a shit job that has them regularly going into bars in the Mecca of drunken revelry, known commonly as Nashville, to ID the patrons. Not my idea of a fulfilling career.
You got way into the weeds on this one. Peace. ✌️
January 27, 2024 @ 7:02 pm
I was commenting on the claims made by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission website, not the second section of your post.
January 28, 2024 @ 12:23 pm
Good thing you’re not a lawyer!
January 28, 2024 @ 8:22 am
There was a lot of discussion on the local talk radio station about what authority a plainclothes TABC officer has to demand anyone to show an ID inside a bar, even after it’s been shown to the doorman. It seems that their interaction should only be with the bar operator to make sure they’re in compliance with the law. It does seem like a kinda pointless and thankless job though.
January 27, 2024 @ 2:58 pm
Dropped charges is good.
But they should appologize & refund Chris his $2500 with interest too.
January 27, 2024 @ 9:21 pm
The real problem started when “peace officers” became “law enforcement.”
January 28, 2024 @ 4:59 am
Common sense has prevailed. No doubt the publicity helped!
January 28, 2024 @ 11:11 am
Had there been no video of the incident, the charges would not have been dropped, and these asshole “cops” would be out doing it to others. I’m not one to video anything, but in these situations where micro-dick officers act up, it’s necessary.
January 28, 2024 @ 1:28 pm
Anyone want to talk about TSA, and their stellar employees?
Cleveland, Amarillo*, LAX, Amarillo*, Amarillo*, DFW, Houston, Tampa, SEATAC, Orlando.
*Where you can count on being molested and harassed.
By the time you get to your loved one, TSA Amarillo, has already taken care of the foreplay.
DFW and Houston – where to even start …..
January 29, 2024 @ 3:47 pm
if you’re getting molested by TSA then you were asking for it. – di harris, probably on some other thread
January 29, 2024 @ 6:33 pm
What an irresponsible comment.
January 28, 2024 @ 2:49 pm
It would be nice to think ol’ Chris will write a killer song or two about this whole fucked-up situation. But I suspect he won’t, and even if he did his label would never let him put them out.
January 28, 2024 @ 9:15 pm
Bobby Fuller and the Clash will be happy that Young fought the law and won.Now his girl will have even more reason to rock him harder than a downtown band !!!!!!!
January 29, 2024 @ 7:47 am
He didn’t win, he got a suitable monetary and public image hit for a acting like a brat. No need to throw the book at him, but this was far from a WIN for Chris.
January 29, 2024 @ 8:32 am
I disagree. I think this is a solid publicity win for Chris Young. No pub is bad pub for a celebrity, and Chris Young is easy to forget as a 3rd tier mainstream country star. Now he and his upcoming album is on way more people’s radar.
January 29, 2024 @ 4:40 pm
I’m sure Chris’ album will score some 8k unit sales during its first week
January 31, 2024 @ 6:50 am
That’s probably a bit of wishful thinking.
January 29, 2024 @ 10:15 am
Now think of the millions of times this has happened to an ordinary Joe. Arrested, fines, probation. Days off of work for someone that lives paycheck to paycheck.
He should not have touched the cops shoulder. No one should be touching anyone, but the arrest was way to much.
January 31, 2024 @ 4:12 pm
I would like to see the video. However if he touched the officer and the officer shoved him back the officer had no option but to arrest him. Once an officer places his hands on you forcefully he better arrest you to protect himself from wrongful lawsuits. Young is getting away with this because of his celebrity. I like Chris Young, have seen him a couple of times in concert. However as a retired police officer I can say I wouldn’t let someone put their hands on me. Some of you write some disturbing things about the police , as if we take this job to be verbally and physically abused and have to take it because you have a right to do it. Then you cry when we fight back. What a load of bs. Good people are fortunate we are here. If we were not it would be total anarchy. This is why police officers are pulling back and letting criminals rule the street. Because we don’t have the backing of the public or the politicians. I hope it gets worse if I were a police officer today my response time would be very slow and my actions would be minimal just to protect myself. I wouldn’t even pull very many people over unless I had no choice. Did you see what the eligals did to two police officers in New York the other day. They were released back into the public without posting even a bond. People like the commentary on here are ruining r society, our country, and our way of life. Keep it up you will be a victim someday and who are you going to call. Oh I forgot LeBron James will come to help.
January 31, 2024 @ 6:10 pm
Why are four ABC Agents necessary in a single bar to check ABC cards? Any person who purports to be an “officer” who is actively facilitating, abating, and covering for Constitutional violations is a criminal – and has totally abdicated any claim or posture of being an “law enforcement authority or officer”. Any person who lays hands on my wallet, much less my Constitutionally guaranteed rights, is fair game for a citizen’s arrest. Will touch.
January 29, 2024 @ 9:16 pm
I lived in Nashville for about 5 years before moving 40 mins south and ya’ll would not like the city if it didnt have a well-funded and adequately staffed police department. It’s all fun and games until it turns into Mephis and these new builds have to have bars on the windows. The police have their problems but you can’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.
January 30, 2024 @ 6:12 am
He’s an entitled douchebag who brought this entire situation on himself. He’s no victim.