Hayden Panettiere's boyfriend arrested for domestic violence

EXCLUSIVE

Hayden PanettiereThe boyfriend was taken to prison after their night in the city became violent at home … TMZ learned.

Sources close to the situation tell us … the star of "Nashville" and his friend, Brian Hickerson, were together drinking together in Hollywood on Wednesday night before going home. We were told that the couple had had an argument that had turned physically and that at some point the cops were called … we do not know by whom.

The police arrived on Thursday around 2 am and our sources noticed redness and marks on Hayden's body. After interrogating them both, we learned that they had determined that Hickerson would have started the fight and arrested him.

The police forces tell us that he had been detained for spousal abuse. He was released Thursday after posting a $ 50,000 bail.

This is not the first time Hickerson has been involved in a marital dispute, but last time it was with his father.

We broke the story … Brian and his father, David, had an altercation in a house in South Carolina in October. According to the police report, the cops responded to a call to the assault and battery, and when they arrived, Hayden opened the door apparently. Drunk and frenzied state.

About a month later, Hayden and Brian were spotted at a hotspot in Hollywood … and he caused a scene with a false proposition.

The couple is in a relationship since last summer, probably around the time Hickerson "saved" Panettiere to spread paparazzi.

We reached out to Hayden … no word, for the moment.