Man who tipped $22K at Nashville hotel bar arrested on public intoxication charge

NASHVILLE — Metro police on Monday arrested a Bellevue, Tennessee, man on public intoxication charges after he tipped servers $22,000 at a downtown hotel bar.

It all started when friends of Joel Boyers called police after they said they received strange texts from him about taking drugs that "increased his intelligence" and drinking while carrying a gun.

"He also made bizarre statements about giving away his child on Facebook," according to his arrest affidavit.

Police said when officers found Boyers at the JW Marriott hotel on Eighth Avenue South in Nashville, he admitted to drinking all day and smoking marijuana while carrying his firearm.

Hotel staff told police he'd also caused a disruption at the bar because he made several high-dollar tips — amounting to $22,000 — and waitresses were competing to serve him, something hotel management said interfered with the operation of the bar.

Boyers eventually gave police his firearm, which was in his right front pants pocket.

Officers said because he had bloodshot, watery eyes and smelled of alcohol, they arrested him on charges of public intoxication and possession of a firearm while intoxicated.

Davidson County Sheriff's Office records show Boyers was booked into the jail just after 6 p.m. and posted bond several hours later.

He's due in court next month on the matter.

Hotel management could not immediately be reached for comment.

Reach Natalie Neysa Alund at nalund@tennessean.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Man who tipped $22K at Nashville hotel bar arrested on public intoxication charge