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‘Dancing with the Stars’ pro dancer Artem Chigvintsev arrested on domestic violence charges

Artem Chigvintsev^ Nikki Bella at the 9th Annual Variety Charity Poker & Casino Night at the Paramount Studios on July 24^ 2019 in Los Angeles^ CA

“Dancing with the Stars” pro Artem Chigvintsev has been arrested for domestic violence, according to Napa County, California, jail records. TMZ was the first to report news of the incident.

The 42-year-old Chigvintsev, who is married to former WWE wrestler Nikki Garcia (formerly Nikki Bella), was arrested Thursday morning just before 10 a.m. and has been booked on California penal code 273.5(a), which makes it illegal to injure a spouse, cohabitant or fellow parent in an act of domestic violence. His bail was set at $25,000, according to intake records obtained by PEOPLE. According to county records, he was released at 2:18 PM PT.
It has not yet been confirmed but given the charge, Garcia is presumably the spouse in question.

Authorities later released Chigvintsev’s mug shot after his arrest, showing Chigvintsev stares into the camera while standing in front of a gray background, wearing what appears to be a brown button-down shirt with green plaid collar.

Chigvintsev’s arrest comes just one day after Garcia posted on Instagram a video montage with clips throughout her relationship with Chigvintsev in honor of their anniversary on Aug. 27, featuring the lyrics to Elvis Presley’s hit “Can’t Help Falling in Love” as well as writing: “This song is our love story. I’ll never forget where I was when I asked Jesus about Artem. Having a conversation with He & God,” she also wrote. “How my feelings felt too soon. It all felt too fast. And then this song came on. And that’s when I knew that I was falling in love with him and that it was all meant to be. 🙏🏼✨ Happy Anniversary @theartemc I love you! ❤️‍🔥  Chigvintsev also posted on Instagram, writing: “Happy anniversary my love, can’t see my life with out you. You are my everything ❤

Garcia and Chigvintsev first met in 2017 when they were paired together on Dancing With The Stars, later confirming their romance in March 2019.  They were engaged eight months later and welcomed their first child together, son Matteo, in July 2020.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

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