Tarek El Moussa is in the clear. A battery case against the HGTV star following an altercation in Las Vegas has been dismissed, the Las Vegas Times-Review reported on August 18, 2025.
According to the outlet, Justice of the Peace Diana Sullivan dismissed the charge, stemming from an incident that occurred on the night of June 5 while Tarek was on a trip with his wife, Heather Rae El Moussa, and their parents.
Judge Sullivan dropped the charge against El Moussa on August 5, two months after the incident, because he met his diversion requirements, according to records obtained by the Las Vegas Times-Review. He was required to stay out of legal trouble and attend a form of anger management defined as “impulse control counseling.”
Tarek El Moussa Told Police He Was Defending His Dad in Las Vegas Altercation
In town because Tarek was speaking at a real estate event, the El Moussas shared a joint post about their trip to Las Vegas on June 6, the day after the altercation.
“Not our average trip,” Heather quipped, and shared fun videos with their parents in tow — Heather’s mom and dad; Tarek’s mom Dominique El Moussa and her second husband, Robert Carroll; and Tarek’s dad, Bill Arnould.
On June 10, TMZ first reported that Tarek got into a physical altercation with a man at The Palazzo at the Venetian Resort during the trip.
According to the Las Vegas Times-Review, police reviewed surveillance video that showed the man — who has not been identified — sitting at a roulette table while Arnould, 77, stood behind him. After the man bumped into Arnould and then turned back to his game, police said Arnould exchanged words with the man. The video recording did not capture what was said.
Us Weekly said the police report described what happened next: Tarek “charged” at the 51-year-old man, described as “the victim” by police, who “shoved him back and they both took a fighting stance.” Police also determined that “the man then appeared to go for a takedown” on Tarek’s legs.
Court records said Tarek appeared to then “strike” the victim with his knee, causing him to fall to the floor, according to People. While the man was down, the outlet said, Tarek “mounted his back” and “threw three more strikes with his fist to the head of (the victim) before getting up and walking away.”
Us Weekly reported that Tarek told authorities that the man “hit his dad on the back with his hand,” so he “got out of his chair to confront (him) to protect his dad due to him having back problems.”
Tarek has not commented on the Las Vegas altercation, but his attorneys, David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld, told TMZ, “We are very pleased that the case against Tarek was completely dismissed.”
Tarek El Moussa’s Parents Divorced Years Ago But Remain Involved in His Life
Tarek’s parents met and married when they were young, the former “Flip or Flop” star told Country Living in 2018, explaining, “My dad was raised Catholic in the Middle East in Lebanon and then Egypt. My mom’s from Belgium and my dad moved to Europe when he was in his late teens.”
They later divorced, but both have remained involved in Tarek’s life. His mom has appeared on his HGTV shows, including on “The Flip Off” in early 2025, and frequently appears in his and Heather’s social media posts as a doting mom and grandma. Arnould is far less public, but occasionally has appeared in Tarek’s social media shares.
In 2017, for instance, Tarek celebrated his dad’s 70th birthday by posting a family photo on Facebook and writing, “Happy 70th old man!!! The relationship between a father and his children is so important.”
“I was lucky enough to have a supportive and motivating father that made me believe I could accomplish anything in the world,” Tarek continued. “I can say that I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of my dad. I will take all the lessons I’ve learned from him and pass it on to my children. So dad Happy Birthday and I love you!”
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Tarek El Moussa Cleared: Case Dismissed by Las Vegas Judge After HGTV Star Attends Counseling