Rich Swann Arrested For Domestic Battery and False Imprisonment, Suspended By WWE

Rich Swann was arrested overnight on domestic battery and false imprisonment charges.

Gainesville Police released the arrest report for the incident, which happened in Gainesville, Florida at 10:30 p.m. last night. The victim is listed as Vannarah Riggs (independent wrestler Su Yung), who Swann has been in a relationship with for approximately five years and has been married to for nine months.

The arrest report states that Swann and Riggs were involved in an argument after Riggs wrestled at a show in Gainesville. Swann was critiquing Riggs’ performance and began getting angry with her. Riggs got out of the vehicle they were in after getting scared that the argument was going to escalate. He chased her and yelled for her to get back in, then allegedly grabbed her by the arm and around the neck with his arm after Riggs said she didn’t want to get back in, putting her in a headlock and dragging her back to the vehicle.

A witness to the situation said they saw Swann push Riggs back into the vehicle while she screamed for help. They also said Riggs was beating on the window and screaming for help as they drove away. Another witness said they saw the vehicle driving erratically, with Riggs jumping out of it while it was still moving and Swann getting out of it while it was moving to chase her. The vehicle wasn’t put in park and rolled until it hit a telephone pole.

Riggs told police that she was afraid because Swann “has a temper sometimes,” and that she was trying to get away from him because she was afraid the argument would escalate into physical violence. Riggs said she told him to stop the vehicle so she could get out before having to jump out while it was still slowly moving. She said Swann grabbed her by the arm and pulled her back in despite her not wanting to go with him.

Swann denied grabbing Riggs and putting her back in the vehicle, saying she got in on her own and he never physically touched her. He said he was trying to get home and her phone had the GPS on for directions.

The domestic battery charge is listed as a misdemeanor and the false imprisonment charge is a felony. Swann was taken into custody around midnight last night and was in custody as of this morning.

Under their zero tolerance domestic violence policy, WWE issued a statement saying that Swann has been suspended indefinitely:

Rich Swann suspended

STAMFORD, Conn. — WWE has zero tolerance for matters involving domestic violence, and per our policy, Rich Swann has been suspended indefinitely following his arrest.

“WWE has zero tolerance for matters involving domestic violence, and per our policy, Rich Swann has been indefinitely suspended following his arrest.”

The policy states that his employment would be terminated if convicted for such an incident, though WWE notes that their ability to fine, suspend, or terminate a talent isn’t limited or compromised if “incontrovertible evidence of such illegal misconduct” is presented to them.

Due to numerous national media requests…mugshot and arrest report for Rich Swann can be found here: https://t.co/PvQj5B7A7n

(Redactions made in accordance with FSS 119 that protects home address/phone of domestic violence victim.) pic.twitter.com/EgjbzTbjNq

— Gainesville Police (@GainesvillePD) December 10, 2017