He has been charged, according to the police, with embezzling money from the party.
Detectives questioned the 59-year-old former SNP chief executive after he was taken into Police Scotland custody on Thursday at 9.13am.
He was held by the police until shortly after 630 p.m. when he was charged.
Since then, Murrell has been taken out of custody.
In due order, a report will be forwarded to the Procurator Fiscal Service and Crown Office.
Since 2010, he has been wed to Ms. Sturgeon, who left her position as first minister in February of last year.
Murrell has given up his membership with the SNP.
While this development will come as a shock, the police investigation is still underway, so it would be improper to comment at this time, according to an SNP spokesperson.
