According to a police report obtained by Page Six, Luis ‘Louie’ Ruelas, the boyfriend of Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice, was charged with simple assault following a road rage incident in Allendale, New Jersey, in August 2018.
Ruelas and a man named Jesse Palmieri allegedly got into an altercation after Palmieri stopped short to avoid hitting a squirrel.
Luis then tried to pass him, so Palmieri gave him the finger, according to the documents. Upon reaching a stop sign, Ruelas allegedly pulled in front of Palmieri’s vehicle and “charged at Jesse’s driver side door” and a verbal argument ensued, the report states.
As Palmieri attempted to roll up his window, Ruelas allegedly stuck his hand in and struck Palmieri on the side of his head, knocking his sunglasses off his head.
“Luis then grabbed the top the window and began rocking it back and forth as if he was trying to break it,” the report continues.
Palmieri was ultimately able to roll the window up and apologized to Ruelas as he allegedly continued to bash “on the bottom of the window with his fists.” Ruelas drove away, but not before Palmieri captured a photo of his license plate, according to documents via Page Six.
A female witness came forward, called police, and attested to Palmieri’s claims. An officer made contact with Ruelas, who admitted to being involved in a road rage incident but denied striking Palmieri, the report states.
Ruelas was charged with simple assault given Palmieri’s and the witness’ statements as well as the photo of the license plate. Ruelas pleaded guilty to disturbing the peace in December 2018 and paid a $325 fine.
Meanwhile, an insider downplayed the incident. “This was a non-incident in 2018 and it’s even less of one in 2021,” the source told Page Six. “It was a disagreement between two grown men. There was no criminal conviction. The matter was resolved with a small fine and everybody went home.”
In December 2020, Giudice and Ruelas became Instagram official with the Bravo reality star saying her boyfriend was the “best thing” to come out of 2020.
Earlier this month, a source told the publication that the pair are “taking their time” following Teresa’s split from Joe in December 2019. “They both genuinely like each other and have a great relationship,” the insider said.
Teresa was previously married to Joe for 20 years before the pair announced their split in December 2019. They finalized their divorce nearly a year later in September 2020. The exes share four daughters, Gia (20), Gabriella (16), Milania (15), and Audriana (11).
Photo Credit: Courtesy Teresa Giudice/Instagram