Zach Bryan, who is currently sitting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for his new self-titled album, was arrested in Oklahoma on Thursday, September 7th, for obstruction of an investigation after an encounter with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
He was released on bond a few hours later, and shared a statement to social media saying that he was “out of line” for things he had said. Bryan followed that statement with a five-minute video explaining that he was arrested for getting into an argument with a cop after his security guard was pulled over.
The incident happened just two weeks after the release of Zach Bryan, and was first reported by TMZ. Bryan was arrested while driving through Oklahoma, en route to the Philadelphia Eagles’ season-opening game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Earlier on Thursday, Bryan, an Eagles fan, posted a photo on his Instagram Story of a view from a driver’s seat showing countryside scenery, with the caption: “On the road again, gonna go see the birds win.”
Bryan was booked at 6:02 p.m. CT at the Craig County Jail, according to online records, which also included his mugshot. On Thursday evening, he shared his apology. “Today I had an incident with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol,” he wrote. “Emotions got the best of me and I was out of line in the things I said.”
Continuing, Bryan expressed regret for his actions and acknowledged that news of the arrest was already spreading. “I support law enforcement as much as anyone can, I was just frustrated in the moment,” he added. “It was unlike me and I apologize. They brought me to jail, and there is a mugshot 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.”
Early Friday morning, Bryan posted a video detailing the full story of his arrest. The artist started by explaining that he had been pulled over for speeding “four or five [miles per hour] over” the limit in a small Oklahoma town three days earlier, and was handcuffed after saying he wasn’t comfortable turning over his address. However, he was able to talk things out with the cop and was let go with a warning.
Fast forward to Thursday, when Bryan and his security guard were driving in separate cars to Boston. 40 minutes away from Bryan’s house, the security guard got pulled over and Bryan parked nearby to get out and smoke a cigarette. And that’s when the situation spiraled out of control. The cop — implied to be the same one from the earlier incident — ordered Bryan to get back in his car with the threat of taking him to jail if he didn’t comply.
After Bryan proceeded to get “too lippy” with the officer, he was brought to the police car and handcuffed. Bryan then complained about the cuffs being too tight and started “going back and forth” with the cop — only “getting more angry and angry” in the process, which he said is “the worst thing you could possibly do.”
By Bryan’s account, he was still “mouthing off like an idiot, like an actual child” about the cops overstepping their authority when he was let out of the car 15 minutes later. “I was upset. So he looks at me. He says, ‘Man, I’m just gonna tell you this, and don’t interrupt me,'” Bryan recalled. “I’m like, ‘Well, when you’re done, I’m gonna say my piece.’ He’s like, ‘OK.’ He started talking. I interrupted him, naturally, because I was just angry. So he said, ‘I’m gonna take you to jail,’ and he took me to jail.”
Bryan said he was in jail for a few hours, where the situation “lightened up” and he ended up shaking hands with the cop. “I was just an idiot and I’ll take the fall for it,” he said to close out the video. “I’m a grown man and I shouldn’t have behaved like that. It won’t happen again.”
For now, at least, Bryan is headed back on the road to the Eagles game with his pup riding shotgun. Watch the clip below.
Zach Bryan was released on August 25th, and features appearances by Kacey Musgraves (whose duet with Bryan was named Consequence’s Song of the Week), The Lumineers, The War and Treaty, and more. The record moved 200,000 equivalent album units in its first week, and marks the first time a rock album has sat at the No. 1 position on the Billboard 200 since Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Unlimited Love in April 2022.
Meanwhile, just a day before his arrest, on Wednesday, September 6th, Bryan shared a statement to social media regarding his decision to end his boycott on Ticketmaster, writing that “one guy can’t change the whole system.” In 2022, he released the live album All My Homies Hate Ticketmaster.
Assuming that legal troubles don’t interfere with the schedule, Bryan is slated to keep his “The Quitting Time Tour” rolling through December 2024. Check out the full list of dates, and grab your tickets here.
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated with details about the arrest.
Zach Bryan’s mugshot, photo via Craig County Sheriff’s Office.
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
for the sake of transparency on yesterday pic.twitter.com/IJRjEDOrCH
— Zach Bryan (@zachlanebryan) September 8, 2023
