Cagle Accused Of Post-Concert Punch

EMAIL TO A FRIEND PRINT VERSION

AP Photo/John Russell

Country music artist Chris Cagle is accused of punching a man in Tucson after the man's girlfriend got upset when the 39-year-old country singer declined to sign an autograph after a charity benefit show early Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007.

The 39-year-old country singer had finished performing a charity benefit show at a nightclub early Thursday when he declined to sign an autograph for the woman, police spokesman Sgt. Mark Robinson said.

The woman became belligerent and verbally abusive, and according to the police officer who investigated the incident, "called him every name in the book," Robinson said Friday.

"The bouncers were escorting her and her boyfriend out of the bar," Robinson said, when an additional incident occurred. Robinson said he couldn't disclose the nature of that incident.

At that point, Cagle allegedly punched the woman's boyfriend, Robinson said.

Cagle's Nashville, Tenn.-based publicist, Kat Atwood, issued a statement Friday saying the singer "was involved in an altercation that took place between one of his crew members and a patron" after his performance. "The situation was resolved at the venue."

Robinson said Cagle "was cooperative with the investigation."

A criminal citation is technically an arrest, Robinson said.