HGTV Star Tarek El Moussa Cited for Battery After Allegedly Kneeing & Punching Man Amid Las Vegas Casino Brawl
From flipping houses to (allegedly) flipping people…
was allegedly involved in a Sin City scuffle last week that ended with the HGTV star receiving a citation for battery following a knock-down, drag-out fight in the casino of the Venetian hotel’s Palazzo Tower.
TMZ reports that the physical altercation– which was captured on surveillance footage– began after a man allegedly bumped into a chair that was being occupied by star’s father, who was playing roulette at the time. Tarek’s dad was reportedly offended by the man’s actions and turned around to stare at him before returning to the roulette game; however, when the man went on to pat Tarek’s father on the shoulder and say something to him, Tarek– who was sitting near the roulette table– allegedly jumped up to intervene before pushing the man back. Tarek and the man then reportedly both got into “fighting stances.”
In the police report, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department claimed that the man attempted to tackle Tarek by the legs, which Tarek responded to by kneeing the man and allegedly jumping on his back. Tarek then reportedly delivered three punches to the man’s head before eventually getting up and walking away, according to Page Six.
Police state that the alleged victim was left with bruising under his right eye and a cut on the bridge of his nose as a result of the altercation; he did, however, refuse medical attention at the scene.
As for Tarek, he told police that he got involved in the situation between his father and the man in order to “protect his dad due to him having back problems.” Police opted not to arrest the reality TV star on the scene, but they did reportedly read him his Miranda rights. Instead of a pair of cuffs, Tarek was slapped with a citation for battery.
Tarek has yet to comment on the melee, though he’s received a handful of comments from fans on social media reacting to what allegedly went down last week.
“Don’t worry Tarek,” one person commented on Friday. “Self defense of your father’s behalf is a loving thing to do! The video will show the truth.”
“I heard you flipped a man in Las Vegas,” another wrote, along with a laughing-face emoji.
“Well…well…well! What a temper we have,” a comment from last week read, with another adding, “I think your unstable qualities shine once every few years.”
(Photos: Instagram; HGTV)
