NEWS
Country artist Bailey Zimmerman faces felony charge after allegedly damaging Sandia Resort hotel room
Zimmerman also got into altercation with band members, according to court document
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A country singer recently canceled a concert at Sandia Resort & Casino after allegedly getting into a fight with bandmates and damaging a hotel room.
On Thursday, prosecutors filed an arrest warrant charging Bailey Zimmerman, 26, from the Nashville suburb of Brentwood, Tennessee, with criminal damage exceeding $1,000 and obtaining services by false pretenses.
Zimmerman is known for songs including 鈥淩ock and a Hard Place鈥� and 鈥淗oly Smokes.鈥�
At 3:02 p.m. May 27, the night of the concert, five people 鈥� including Zimmerman 鈥� were smoking behind the resort when he burned fellow band members with a cigarette, according to an affidavit for an arrest warrant filed in Metropolitan Court. Later, inside the hotel, he pushed a band member against a wall twice in what 鈥渁ppeared to be play fighting,鈥� police said.
More than an hour later, at 4:20 p.m., casino security told police Zimmerman got into an SUV and slammed the door. Security reported that he 鈥渁ppeared to be under the influence of alcohol and was very angry with his band and manager,鈥� according to the affidavit.
After arriving at the Sandia Amphitheater, Zimmerman stumbled onto the stage, took a guitar from someone and swung it, 鈥渟triking the ground twice before tripping over the stage and falling backward,鈥� police said.
Zimmerman then took two drum cymbals and threw them onto the stage before stumbling and swaying around, according to the affidavit.
Police said he fell on the stage, got up and threw a microphone. He then grabbed another microphone and threw it. His bandmates tried to intervene, but he yelled at them, walked off the stage, returned and pushed one of his guitarists, the affidavit states.
About 15 minutes later, at 4:44 p.m., police said Zimmerman walked to the SUV and spit at a Sandia security officer before returning to the resort. He fell several times before eventually making it back to his suite.
The concert was canceled, and Zimmerman was told to leave. The next day, housekeeping found a damaged television, phone, coffee table and chairs, as well as a hole in the wall, according to the affidavit.
鈥淪andia Police attempted phone calls and emails to his staff regarding this matter, with no answer from anyone on his staff,鈥� deputies said.
According to a news release, Sandia Resort & Casino hopes to reschedule the show later this summer.
In a statement, Zimmerman said he was not feeling well May 27 and 鈥渢ried to power through鈥� but was unable to 鈥済ive you all the show you deserve.鈥�
鈥淚 hate letting y鈥檃ll down and was really looking forward to these shows, but I gotta take care of myself so I can get back out there stronger,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e will be announcing the rescheduled dates as soon as possible, and all tickets will be honored for the new dates. Love y鈥檃ll so much, and I appreciate the prayers and understanding 鈥� I鈥檒l see you real soon.鈥�
Gregory R.C. Hasman is a general assignment reporter and the Road Warrior. He can be reached at ghasman@abqjournal.com or 505-823-3820.
