Nikki Garcia’s Rep Speaks Out After Husband Artem Chigvintsev’s Domestic Violence Arrest
Dancing With the Stars fans are learning more about pro Artem Chigvintsev’s arrest.
This includes the reactions to him being booked at California’s Napa County Department of Corrections on a charge of felony domestic violence Aug. 29.
One day after Chigvintsev was arrested and then released from custody on a $25,000 bond, a rep for his wife Nikki Garcia—with whom he shares 4-year-old son Matteo—addressed the incident.
"This is a private matter," the former WWE star's rep told E! Aug. 30, "and Nikki asks for privacy for her and her family at this time."
Former Dancing With the Stars pro Cheryl Burke also expressed her shock over the news.
“My heart goes out to everyone involved,” she said on an Aug. 30 episode of her podcast Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans that was recorded the day before. “It’s just really hard for me because he was my family. I don’t know what to say here other than I hope everybody’s OK.”
Napa County Sheriff’s Public Information Officer Henry Wofford told NBC News they would not be releasing the alleged victim’s name, gender, age or relationship to Chigvintsev or where the arrest took place due to the individual’s request for privacy. However, he provided insight on what led to the arrest.
"When someone is charged with felony domestic violence usually this means there is a visible injury or credible eyewitness,” Wofford noted to E! News, “our deputies felt comfortable arresting him on felony domestic violence charges.”
“Of course this could change with more evidence that might come through,” he added, “but at the time of the arrest the deputies felt it was a felony charge instead of a misdemeanor."
Kelsey McNeal/ABC via Getty Images
In audio obtained by TMZ, a dispatcher can be heard saying Chigvintsev had called 911 to request medical attention after an argument in which shoes were allegedly thrown at him. However, the dispatcher said the 42-year-old later noted medical help was no longer needed.
Chigvintsev has yet to speak publicly about his arrest or 911 call. E! News has reached out to the dancer for comment but has yet to hear back.
The former Mirrorball winner's arrest came less than three weeks before the season 33 premiere of Dancing With the Stars. However, multiple outlets reported Chigvintsev was not set to appear on the show this season.
To learn more about his arrest and what has been reported since, keep reading.
(E! and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family).
For more information on domestic abuse or to get help for yourself or someone you love, visit the website for The National Domestic Violence Hotline (http://www.thehotline.org/) or call 1-800-799-7233.