‘Dancing With the Stars’ pro Artem Chigvintsev arrested in Bay Area

Reality TV star Artem Chigvintsev was arrested Thursday on suspicion of domestic abuse in Yountville, an affluent town in Napa County. Chigvintsev, 42, is a Russian dancer who gained fame on reality competition shows like “Strictly Come Dancing” and “Dancing With the Stars.”

According to Napa County booking records, Chigvintsev was arrested at 10 a.m. Thursday and released from jail four hours later after making a $25,000 bail. Napa County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Henry Wofford said Chigvintsev’s felony domestic violence charge is only used in cases with a very credible witness or apparent markings that suggest abuse. The target of the alleged abuse has not been named.

Chigvintsev debuted on “Dancing With the Stars” in 2014. The show pairs professional dancers with celebrities; Chigvintsev has danced with stars like Patti LaBelle, Mischa Barton and Maureen McCormick. In 2017, he was paired with WWE star Nikki Garcia; the couple began dating and married in 2022. They have one child together.

A representative for Garcia told People that “this is a private matter, and Nikki asks for privacy for her and her family at this time.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.