“Something In The Orange” singer Zach Bryan was arrested in his home state of Oklahoma Thursday evening.
Zach Bryan was arrested in Vinita, Oklahoma, on an “obstruction of investigation” charge. Bryan was booked into the Craig County Jail and released on bond a few hours later.
Details were slowly emerging emerge about the arrest as Oklahoma law enforcement shares information with local media. Bryan was reportedly traveling on the turnpike when state troopers performed a traffic stop. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol told FOX23 that the singer was accused of interfering with the traffic stop.
Zach Bryan issued a statement on social media addressing the incident and admits that he was “out of line.”
“Today I had an incident with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Emotions got the best of me and I was out of line in the things I said,” Bryan wrote, adding that he supports law enforcement and was caught in a moment of frustration. “It was unlike me and I apologize. They brought me to jail, and there is a mug shot of me floating around. Prayers we can all move on from this and prayers people know I’m just trying the best I can, I love you guys and I am truly sorry to the officers.”
Today I had an incident with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Emotions got the best of me and I was out of line in the things I said.
I support law enforcement as much as anyone can, I was just frustrated in the moment, it was unlike me and I apologize. They brought me to jail, and…— Zach Bryan (@zachlanebryan) September 8, 2023
Bryan’s fans were overwhelmingly supportive, with most agreeing that it’s a minor infraction and that everyone makes mistakes.
In the early morning hours of Friday (September 8), Bryan shared a video message to his Instagram Story detailing the incident.
“I was an idiot today,” Bryan said at the beginning of the video. “My decisions did not reflect who I was as a person….I should have been smarter.”
He went on to say that he wanted to share the whole timeline and exactly what happened so that there were no misunderstandings surrounding the incident.
Bryan shared that he was first pulled over in a small town in Oklahoma for going “4 or 5 over” a few days prior. During that traffic stop the singer initially refused to give the officer his address, something he was uncomfortable doing due to his celebrity status. Zach’s refusal caused some tension with the officer, leading to some frustration for Zach who eventually was put in handcuffs before giving the information the officer requested. The singer was let go with a warning.
“I think it just frustrated me a lot because I didn’t know if I had a right to refuse giving him my address or not,” Bryan said.
On Thursday, Zach told his bodyguard that he was going to drive to Boston “to see the birds play.” (Bryan, a Philadelphia Eagles fan, is likely referring to the Eagles’ game against the New England Patriots scheduled for Sunday). When he was just an hour away from his house, Bryan’s security guard, who was traveling behind him, got pulled over by state troopers. The singer turned around and pulled over on the side of the road to wait for his guard.
Zach eventually got out of his car to wait and was told by an officer to get back in his vehicle. A verbal argument ensued and Bryan “got too lippy with him” which led to the singer being handcuffed and placed in the officer’s car. Zach said that he continued to get more and more angry with the situation and continued to mouth off to the officers.
He was then taken to jail where he was in a cell for a few hours before being released. Bryan said that the situation deescalated as he “cooled off” and left the jail.
“I just pray everyone knows I don’t think I’m above the law. I was just being disrespectful and I shouldn’t have been, and it was my mistake,” he said.
“I was just an idiot and I’ll take the fall for it. I’m a grown man and I shouldn’t behave like that. It won’t happen again,” he promised. “Thanks for defending me online and stuff. I don’t really need it. I just shouldn’t have did what I did. The world moves on. Tomorrow’s gonna come anyway.”
Zach’s arrest came hours after learning he had earned a CMA Awards nomination for New Artist of the Year. He is the reigning New Male Artist of the Year for the Academy of Country Music and has seen huge career success in recent weeks following the release of his self-titled album in late August.
Watch Zach Bryan‘s video account of the incident below.