New York ( CNN ) -- He did n't compete for the hot dog eating title this year , but he did cause a scene at the contest . Takeru Kobayashi was arrested at Coney Island after his rival , Joey Chestnut , won the annual Nathan 's International Hot Dog Eating Contest . The six-time champion of the contest was trying to make his way on stage after this year 's event , according to a representative for Kobayashi and a New York police officer at the Brooklyn precinct booking desk . The incident was not a publicity stunt , Maggie James , Kobayashi 's spokeswoman , said Sunday night . `` He got excited when people chanted his name after the contest ... . so he jumped up on the stage because he wanted his fans to see him and ( he thought ) maybe they would chant , 'Let him eat , ' '' James said , referring to a dispute that kept Kobayashi from the table this year . Kobayashi -- who took home the title every year from 2001 to 2006 -- did not compete because of a contract dispute with Major League Eating . He watched from the stands . Chestnut won by consuming 54 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes . The win -- Chestnut 's fourth straight -- was short of his 68-hot dog record set last year . A statement from the New York Police Department 's public affairs office following the arrest said Kobayashi was charged with two misdemeanors and one violation , with the violation considered a low-level charge similar to a traffic violation . The two misdemeanors were resisting arrest and obstructing government administration ( specifically , interfering with police ) . The violation was trespassing . Kobayashi was being held at a police precinct in Brooklyn , and it was unclear whether he had a lawyer or when he might have bail set . His spokeswoman , James , said it appeared that he would spend the night in jail unless he could get a hearing -- unlikely on a Sunday night and also a holiday night . In the days leading up to the event , Kobayashi said he loves the contest and he wanted to participate , but that the contract was too restrictive . Speaking through a Japanese interpreter , he said that all his income is earned through competitive eating . He said the new contract required by the competition would bar him from competing elsewhere in the United States or Canada for a year . Both sides said contract negotiations went on until Saturday morning . MLE chairman George Shea called Kobayashi 's arrest `` unfortunate . '' `` It makes you wonder what his thinking was , '' Shea said . `` Major League Eating made an enormous effort to get him into the contest , '' he added . `` We wanted him there . Nathan 's wanted him there . The fans wanted him there . '' Hailing from Japan and weighing in at 160 pounds , Kobayashi , 31 , rose to frank-feasting stardom in 2001 when he devoured 50 dogs , shattering the previously held record of 25 1/8 . But in 2007 , having entered the challenge with a jaw injury , Kobayashi met his match in Chestnut . Chestnut , the 230-pound contender from San Jose , California , downed 66 dogs to Kobayashi 's 63 that year . Kobayashi has not won the competition since , and Chestnut is currently ranked No . 1 in competitive eating by the MLE . For a hot dog to be counted as finished , competitors must consume both the hot dog and the bun . Currently ranked third , Kobayashi still holds world records for eating cow brains ( 17.7 pounds in 15 minutes ) , lobster rolls ( 41 in 15 minutes ) and rice balls ( 20 pounds in 30 minutes ) . `` This guy did great things for our sport , '' Shea said . `` He 's a fearsome competitor . '' CNN 's Ross Levitt and Susan Candiotti contributed to this report .
Kobayashi arrested after hot dog contest . NEW : Not a publicity stunt , spokeswoman says . Rival Chestnut won this year 's challenge . Kobayashi faces two misdemeanor charges .