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Boisterous 'apprentice' arrested at Hard Rock

The reality show contestant causes a scene at the Seminole Hard Rock, resulting in his arrest, says a police spokesman.

By KEVIN GRAHAM
Published April 11, 2005

TAMPA - Scolded on national television about his "anger mismanagement" problems, NBC's The Apprentice contestant Chris Shelton lost his cool off camera in Tampa early Sunday and was arrested and accused of disorderly conduct, authorities said.

The 22-year-old Nevada real estate investor is among the six remaining contestants of the original 18 competing on the show for a job with Donald Trump.

Shelton was arrested about 3:25 a.m. at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino at 5223 Orient Road. He posted $250 bail less than eight hours later and was released, according to jail records. Shelton could not be reached for comment.

A Seminole Police Department officer heard Shelton making noise in the hotel lobby and asked him twice to calm down before arresting him, said Seminole police spokesman Gary Bitner.

"He was loud and he just wouldn't calm down," Bitner said.

According to Shelton's arrest record, "he was at the lobby causing a scene ... there were several patrons in the area who were visibly shaken by his actions. After several attempts to calm Shelton, he continued to yell and curse, refusing to calm down and stop causing a scene."

Bitner wouldn't comment Sunday on why Shelton was upset. He said that Shelton and some friends were staying at the hotel, there to celebrate his continued success on The Apprentice . Nothing official promoting the show was planned during the weekend, he said.

"We don't really have any comment," said NBC spokesman Jim Dowd. "I don't really have any details. This is clearly a private matter with Chris. Until he calls me, I don't know what to tell you."

Shelton sees himself as a young Donald Trump, according to The Apprentice Web site. Shelton's bio says he was born in Richfield, Utah, and raised primarily in Las Vegas. After high school, he concentrated on expanding his father's real estate business. He now has a portfolio of properties valued at more than $1-million.

Some may argue that it's the tobacco-chewing Shelton's temper that's made him a standout character on this season's The Apprentice .

On a recent episode, he lost a credit card after a $4,000 shopping spree at Best Buy for his team. He returned to the store the next day and refused to leave until his card was found. "I hope they find that credit card so I don't have to find an aluminum bat and break somebody's kneecaps," he told a store employee.

It took more than an hour, but the manager found the card.

[Last modified April 11, 2005, 01:17:31]