Reality TV notoriety has collided with serious criminal exposure for Kyle Chrisley. On December 20, 2025, the 34-year-old was arrested in Rutherford County, Tennessee, facing multiple felony charges after an alleged violent encounter with deputies. It marked his second arrest involving violence in just over a year, unfolding as he actively sues the same county for $1.7 million over a prior arrest.
According to a December 21, 2025 Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office statement, his bond stands at $88,500 as a January 2026 hearing nears. Here is what is happening beneath the headlines as these cases collide.
Arrested While Suing the County
Kyle Chrisley’s December 20, 2025 arrest places him in an unusual legal posture. He faces 10 criminal charges while simultaneously pursuing a federal civil rights lawsuit against Rutherford County and two deputies. The criminal case stems from an alleged altercation with law enforcement, while the civil suit challenges how deputies handled his September 2024 arrest.
Court filings show Kyle and his wife Ashleigh are plaintiffs in federal case 3:2025-cv-00931, seeking $1.7 million in damages. The defendants include Rutherford County and deputies Nicholas Smith and Steve Hill. Legal experts often note that parallel civil and criminal proceedings involving the same jurisdiction can raise complex questions about neutrality and procedure, particularly when credibility becomes central.
As prosecutors prepare their case, the overlap ensures every move in court will be scrutinized closely, both legally and publicly.
The Night That Triggered 10 Charges
The events leading to Kyle’s arrest began around 7 p.m. on December 20, 2025, when Ashleigh Chrisley called 911 while driving in Murfreesboro. According to FOX Nashville reporting dated December 23, 2025, she said Kyle was “being belligerent” and walking down the middle of Burleson Lane after drinking approximately 64 ounces of beer at dinner.
She also reported that Kyle threatened her with a fork during the meal. When deputies arrived, Sgt. Brady Greene wrote that Kyle “became immediately aggressive,” according to the Sheriff’s Office statement. What began as a welfare check escalated quickly as tensions rose between Kyle and responding officers.
That escalation would soon result in one of the most serious arrest records of Kyle’s life, setting the stage for felony charges.
Assault, Retaliation, and Alleged Threats
Kyle was booked on 10 charges, including 3 felony counts of assault on a first responder and 3 felony counts of retaliation against law enforcement for past actions, according to the December 21, 2025 Sheriff’s Office statement. Additional charges include domestic assault, public intoxication, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest.
Court records state that Kyle threatened deputies, saying he would “kill all of them.” Deputies allege he charged at officers and struck multiple responders before OC spray was deployed. The retaliation counts specifically cite Kyle’s alleged anger toward law enforcement over prior encounters, linking this incident directly to his ongoing dispute with the county.
Those allegations significantly raise the stakes, particularly as prosecutors must now prove intent tied to past law enforcement actions.
A Pattern of Injury and Escalation
According to sworn affidavits, all 3 responding deputies sustained injuries during the confrontation. One deputy reported being punched in the face and head, while another documented explicit death threats during the struggle. Ashleigh told officers she feared physical assault following the dinner confrontation and the drive home.
The physical altercation continued until OC spray subdued Kyle, after which he was restrained and transported to Rutherford County Adult Detention Center. Authorities note that the violent nature of this encounter mirrors Kyle’s September 2024 arrest on aggravated assault allegations.
That similarity has drawn attention from both prosecutors and defense attorneys, especially as it frames the December arrest as part of a broader pattern rather than an isolated incident.
Mental Health, Substance Use, and Risk
Kyle Chrisley has openly discussed long-standing mental health struggles. Todd Chrisley has said his son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and would “struggle for life” with the condition. In a 2019 podcast appearance, Kyle described a suicide attempt following severe medication side effects, citing “all kinds of crazy thinking.”
His criminal history includes a May 2019 felony methamphetamine possession arrest in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma. Court documents from December 2025 again note alcohol consumption before the arrest. Mental health advocates frequently warn that untreated bipolar disorder combined with substance use can intensify encounters with law enforcement.
That context is expected to play a central role as Kyle’s defense team prepares arguments ahead of his January hearing.
The Dispute That Sparked the Lawsuit
Kyle’s federal lawsuit traces back to September 9, 2024, when a dispute erupted at his Murfreesboro home involving mechanic Kentravis Moore of KT Mobile Diesel Repair, LLC. According to the lawsuit, Moore arrived uninvited, kicked doors, issued threats, and rammed Kyle’s SUV.
Kyle called 911, but deputies arrested him instead, charging him with felony aggravated assault. Those charges were later dismissed. The lawsuit alleges false arrest, excessive force, and constitutional violations. Attorney Wesley Clark stated on December 21, 2025, “Our hopes for this lawsuit are accountability and change because no family should have to endure what the Chrisley family endured in this terrifying scenario.”
Fifteen months later, Kyle now faces new charges from the same county, deepening the legal clash.
A Family Divided by Outcomes
Kyle’s legal spiral contrasts sharply with his parents’ recent fortunes. On May 27, 2025, President Donald Trump granted full pardons to Todd and Julie Chrisley after they served roughly 28 months of a combined 19-year sentence, as reported by ABC News in June 2025. Both were released within 24 hours.
During their incarceration, Savannah Chrisley assumed guardianship of Grayson and Chloe, revealing, “I have custody of a 16-year-old and a 10-year-old, and that’s a lot.” She later told the Republican National Convention, “You don’t know heartache until you look two children in the eyes and say, ‘I don’t know when mom and dad are coming home.’”
As Kyle approaches a January 27, 2026 hearing while pursuing his lawsuit, his future remains uncertain, with criminal exposure and civil claims unfolding side by side.
Sources:
Official Statement on Kyle Chrisley Arrest and Charges. Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, December 21, 2025
Television Personalities Sentenced to Years in Federal Prison for Fraud and Tax Evasion. U.S. Department of Justice, November 21, 2022
Kyle Chrisley v. Rutherford County et al., Case No. 3:2025-cv-00931. U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, August 18, 2025
Reality TV Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley Discuss Freedom After Trump Pardon. ABC News, June 2025
New Details Emerge in Kyle Chrisley’s Arrest in Rutherford County. FOX Nashville (WZTV), December 23, 2025