Chris Cagle Disputes Police Report

Chris Cagle photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

June 4, 2008 — Chris Cagle, "embarrassed" over last week’s 12-hour jail stay on a domestic-violence charge, accepts responsibility for his incarceration but insists he was not inebriated. Chris gave his first public statement about the incident to Nashville’s WKRN-TV Tuesday during his fan club party at Nashville Shores.

Chris was arrested in the early hours May 28 after a fight with his girlfriend, Jennifer Tant, in which they attacked each other with a purse and umbrella. The two had gone to a local bar prior to the skirmish at his home, and police said the couple was clearly intoxicated.

In his statement, Chris insisted the argument "was not elevated nor induced because of my being intoxicated. I’ve worked too hard and come this far. And to prove this, I asked to take a sobriety test and a Breathalyzer test and was denied the opportunity by the officer on the site."

Last week’s arrest shocked fans in part because of Chris’ attempts at working out his demons. He’s received personal counseling from a psychotherapist and told The Tennessean in 2005 he had given up alcohol. He has also spoken repeatedly about re-priotizing his life — giving family precedent over his music and recognizing the importance of his relationships.

"I spent the last five or six months talking to the media about growth and sobriety and maturing both as a person and as an artist," he said.

"I am indeed in a relationship," he added, "and in relationships, there will be arguments. And I take full responsibility for my actions. I was wrong, and I’m embarrassed. I’m not placing the blame or pointing the finger at anyone — at Jennifer, at the police or the media. I’m a human being who was involved in an argument. End of story."

Chris suggested the facts of the case were distorted in public reports but also said he has accepted that "the public has already made their decision based on how it appears in print."

Chris is slated to take part today in the City of Hope Celebrity Softball Game, unofficially connected to the CMA Music Festival in Nashville. Among other stars playing are Carrie Underwood, Phil Vassar, Joe Dee Messina, Sara Evans, Montgomery Gentry, Luke Bryan and Vince Gill.