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Artem Chigvintsev was arrested for domestic battery on Thursday in Napa, California, and hit with a felony charge of “corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant.”
Just weeks after celebrating his two-year wedding anniversary with his wife, former WWE wrestler Nikki Garcia, 40, the 42-year-old Dancing With The Stars pro was taken into custody after what was reported as a “medical emergency” at their home.
TMZ reported the news on August 29, noting that while Nikki has not yet been identified as the alleged victim, she confirmed she, too, was in Napa on Wednesday.
As fans may know, Artem and Nikki began dating after meeting on the set of DWTS season 25 in 2017. Although Nikki was engaged to John Cena, 47, at that time, the couple called it quits in 2018. And in 2019, Artem and Nikki, who share a four-year-old son, Matteo, confirmed their romance.
According to a rep for the Napa County Sheriff’s Office, police responded to a domestic violence call in Yountville just before 10:00 on Thursday morning. And as a separate TMZ report shared, the alleged victim is cooperating with the authorities, answering questions about what happened and if there was a potential history of domestic violence.
While no details of the reported incident have been shared, it was noted that a felony arrest can be made only if there are visible injuries to a victim.
It was also stated that there may be other witnesses involved.
As for what prompted a police presence at Artem’s home, a third TMZ report revealed that someone at the residence called 911 to report a “medical emergency,” prompting paramedics and the fire department to head their way before someone else canceled the request for help.
Regarding Artem’s status on DWTS, PEOPLE confirmed there were no plans for him to participate in the upcoming 33rd season, noting that the series’ pro dancers often take seasons off.
Artem was released from custody on Thursday afternoon after a bail of $25,000 was set.