Nikki Garcia breaks her silence in first statement after husband Artem Chigvintsev’s arrest for domestic battery
Nikki Garcia has broken her silence by giving her first statement after husband Artem Chigvintsev was arrested for domestic battery.
Chigvintsev, 42, was released on $25,000 bond Thursday, August 29, after his early morning arrest in Yountville, California.
Due to laws protecting the identity of domestic violence victims, officials at the Napa County Sheriff’s Office have not released the name, gender or age of the alleged victim, but reports indicated he was charged with corporal injury to spouse.
In a statement on Friday, a representative speaking on behalf of Garcia for privacy following the arrest.
Nikki Garcia has broken her silence by giving her first statement after husband Artem Chigvintsev was arrested for domestic battery
‘This is a private matter, and Nikki asks for privacy for her and her family at this time,’ a rep told UsWeekly.
Yesterday, deputies said there was sufficient evidence to make an arrest.
Officials with the Napa County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the arrest of longtime Dancing With the Stars pro with Dailymail.com on Thursday, noting that deputies clearly witnessed physical evidence of domestic violence prior to taking the ABC star into custody.
Chigvintsev was arrested in Yountville, California early Thursday in connection with suspicion of felony domestic violence by deputies with the department, Wofford told Dailymail.com Thursday.
‘When it comes to felony domestic violence, it’s not based on hearsay,’ Napa County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Henry Wofford told Dailymail.com Thursday. ‘The deputies saw something that is apparent.’
Wofford explained, ‘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.”‘
Officials with the Napa County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the arrest of longtime Dancing With the Stars pro Artem Chigvintsev, 42, with Dailymail.com on Thursday, noting that deputies clearly witnessed physical evidence of domestic violence prior to taking him into custody
Deputies spoke to Chigvintsev and arrested him for felony domestic violence, Wofford told Dailymail.com Thursday, adding that the dance pro ‘was cooperative’ and ‘did not fight with our deputies or anything of that nature.’
An alarm was triggered at the home by a 911 call made from the premises at around 8:30 a.m., insiders close to the probe told TMZ on Thursday, after an unidentified caller reported a ‘medical emergency’ from the property.
Sources told the outlet that ‘paramedics and the fire department were en route, someone from the house called 911 again to cancel the request,’ and both agencies went back to their stations.
According to the Napa County arrest database, the specific state penal code applies to suspects who ‘willfully [inflict] corporal injury resulting in a traumatic condition’ toward a ‘spouse or former spouse;’ ‘cohabitant or former cohabitant;’ ‘fiancé or fiancé;’ ‘someone with whom the offender has, or previously had, an engagement or dating relationship;’ or ‘the mother or father of the offender’s child.’
Wofford told Dailymail.com Thursday that Chigvintsev was booked at Napa County Department of Corrections at 10:40 a.m., with his bail set at $25,000.
Chigvintsev posted bail at about 2:15 p.m. and was no longer in custody as of Thursday evening, Wofford told Dailymail.com Thursday.
Wofford told Dailymail.com Thursday that there was only one other person connected to this incident, but declined to identity of the victim or any details, per their request.
Wofford said that as of Thursday evening, he was not aware of any protective orders being filed by the victim or on their behalf by authorities.
‘We’re going to take our time like we do in every domestic violence case,’ Wofford said. ‘No one gets a preferential treatment, and no one is getting overlooked.
Wofford told Dailymail.com that the department was focused on providing ‘a support system for the victim.’
Chigvintsev three days ago celebrated his second wedding anniversary with wife Nikki Garcia, 40 – who formerly wrestled in the WWE under the name Nikki Bella. Pictured in NYC in 2023
Wofford said that a probe was ongoing as to whether Chigvintsev had violated any laws with his conduct prior to his arrest Thursday.
‘We want the victim to know we want to know their story, and if we must investigate whether this is an isolated incident or if this is an ongoing incident, we’re happy to investigate,’ Wofford said. ‘We’re going to do everything we can to protect our community.’
Wofford said that information on Chigvintsev’s pending court dates were not immediately available.
Chigvintsev three days ago celebrated his second wedding anniversary with wife Nikki Garcia, 40 – who formerly wrestled in the WWE under the name Nikki Bella – and the couple are parents to son Matteo, three.
The two initially crossed paths in 2017, when they were paired up on Dancing With the Stars’ 25th season.
Chigvintsev had past been in high-profile relationships with other celebrities, as he was wed to dancer Giselle Peacock, 43, between 2004 and 2005; and dated DWTS judge Carrie Ann Inaba, 56, between 2006 and 2008.