( CNN ) -- Olympic snowboarding medalist Shaun White has been charged with vandalism and public intoxication after pulling a fire alarm and breaking a phone at a hotel in Nashville , police said . White was arrested after trying to flee the hotel in a cab and kicking a hotel guest who tried to stop him , according to a statement Monday from the Nashville Metro Police Department . The 26-year-old `` appeared to be extremely intoxicated and smelled strongly of alcohol , '' and his `` eyes were red and bloodshot , '' according to the police report . White ran from the hotel after an employee accused him of smashing a phone , police said . A guest followed White from the hotel and called police , the incident report said . `` Once the guest told Mr. White that he called the police , Mr. White attempted to attack the man and fell and hit his head , '' the report said . White was taken to a hospital to have his head injury checked , police said . The guest did n't press charges , but White was arrested on the other misdemeanor charges after refusing to sign a citation , police said . Shaun White : A natural board talent . The U.S. snowboarder , once nicknamed `` The Flying Tomato '' for his distinctive red hair , was released on his own recognizance Monday evening , Davidson County sheriff 's spokeswoman Melinda McDowell said . White has been a professional snowboarder and skateboarder since his early teens , taking gold medals in the halfpipe competition at the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics . His representatives did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment . CNN 's John Branch and Jillian Martin contributed to this report .
NEW : Shaun White fled the hotel after employee accused him of smashing a window , police say . Police said White pulled a fire alarm at a Nashville hotel . He got into a fight with a hotel guest who tried to stop him , police said . The Olympic medalist is free on his own terms , a hotel 's spokeswoman said .