Artem Chigvintsev celebrated wedding anniversary with ex-WWE star wife Nikki Bella days before domestic violence arrest
FORMER Strictly pro Artem Chigvintsev marked his two-year wedding anniversary with wife Nikki just days before he was arrested for domestic violence.
Chigvintsev, 42, was held over domestic battery charges and later released on bail after an emergency medical call was made to police.
The Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing with the Stars alum was arrested on Thursday morning in Napa, California, after a 9-1-1 call was made over a “medical emergency”.
The victim has not yet been named and few details about the felony arrest have been shared.
Three days ago he shared two photos from his wedding to Nikki Garcia – better known as WWE star Nikki Bella – writing: “Happy anniversary my love.
“Can’t see my life with out you. You are my everything.”
Chigvintsev was taken to Napa County Department yesterday with his bail set at £19,000, before he was released later the same day.
An insider told TMZ that paramedics never made it to the location in Yountville where the call was made as they were called off en route.
Officer Henry Wofford from the Napa County Sheriff told NBC that a felony domestic violence arrest is usually made when suspected injuries are visible to cops at the scene.
He later told the Daily Mail: “When it comes to felony domestic violence, it’s not based on hearsay. The deputies saw something that is apparent.
“I’m not telling you this is what happened in this particular case, but sometimes there would be evidence of blood, sometimes scratches, sometimes it’s bruises.
“It’s something visible where the deputies said, ‘OK, we’re making this arrest.”
Award-winning dancer Chigvintsev won Strictly in 2010 with his celeb partner Kara Tointon.
He also appeared on the show with actress Holly Valance and TV presenter Fern Britton in 2012.
The TV star has been accused of threatening “to kill” one of his former celebrity dance partners years before yesterday’s arrest.
Reports resurfaced surrounding claims made by his former Strictly co-star Fern Britton.
The pair danced together on the BBC show in 2012 and finished in 10th place – Chigvintsev’s worst performance on the programme.
Fern previously told The Huffington Post: “He would look at my feet and just kick me or shove me.
“He was like, ‘Shut your face. Go home before I kill you’.”
In 2017 Chigvintsev moved from Strictly to DWTS where he was partnered with his future wife Nikki.
The pair married in August 2022 and share a son who was born in 2020.
Chigvintsev was released from jail on Thursday afternoon, records online show.
Having been booked in for domestic violence charges does not mean he has been formally charged.
The Napa district attorney office said it does not yet have the case but will review it at a later date – when a decision on possible charges will be made.
Officer Wofford said details about the victim and any relationship between them were being kept private.
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