Columbus Short ARRESTED

Columbus Short just got a new set of cuffs .... he was arrested and taken into custody in a Van Nuys courtroom.

Short has been a wanted man since last month when he failed to appear in his criminal domestic violence case. Short chose to go to Barbados instead. The judge issued an arrest warrant and set bail at $40K.

That same judge became enraged earlier this week when Short skipped another hearing ... he was still vacationing in Barbados. The judge upped the bail to $500K.

The former "Scandal" star showed up this AM to face the music and was immediately arrested.

Now get this ... Short had another hearing today in a criminal case involving a bar fight, but he didn't show because he was in custody. So the judge in the bar fight case issued a SECOND arrest warrant and set bail at $250K.