NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Olympic snowboard champion Shaun White apologized Tuesday for "unwise choices," saying he got "carried away" after police accused him of pulling a hotel fire alarm that forced guests to evacuate.
White was charged with public intoxication and vandalism and is due in court Oct. 10.
The 26-year-old snowboard star said on his Facebook page he wants to apologize for "any inconvenience it caused my family, friends, business partners, the hotel and their guests. He added that he was "celebrating a happy occasion with a ton of family and friends and got carried away. I'm truly sorry for my poor behavior."
Police responded to the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel at 2 a.m. Sunday. A drunken man identified as White pulled the fire alarm, forcing an evacuation, police added. An employee also reported seeing White destroy a hotel phone.
White was given the opportunity to sign misdemeanor citations and refused, police said. Baptist Hospital said White was treated there and released Monday before he was arrested and booked by police. A mug shot released by police shows White with a black eye.
He was released by police on his own recognizance Monday afternoon .
White, once nicknamed "the Flying Tomato," won a gold medal in Turin at the 2006 Olympics and in 2010 at the Vancouver Games, and he is an action sports superstar whether skateboarding during the summer or snowboarding in the winter. He's also a multimillionaire with a clothing line and signature video game who expanded last year with a company selling skateboards, BMX bikes and other equipment.
White also has dominated the Winter X Games, winning medals every year since 2002.