Luis 'Louie' Ruelas' ex-fiancée, Vanessa Reiserwas arrested for DUI amid restraining order case that caused stress and anxiety for Teresa Giudice, DailyMail.com can reveal.
Reiser was central to a major storyline on this season of The Real Housewives of New Jersey.During the episode thataired on July 21, Giudice invited her close castmates to her house to share what she had learned about her rival,Margaret Josephs.
Joined by her attorney James Leonard, Giudiuce, 52, informed the ladies that Josephs, 57, was allegedly behind Reiser's restraining order case and had been'talking to Louie's ex the whole time.'
In October 2023, around the date the episode was filmed, it was reported that Ruelas scored a legal victory in court after Reiser, 51, was denied her application for a permanent restraining order.
In new documents obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com, it was revealed that a month before a judge dismissed her complaint, she was arrested for a DUI.
Luis 'Louie' Ruelas' ex-fiancée, Vanessa Reiser, has become a major storyline this season of The Real Housewives of New Jersey as Teresa Giudice was forced to keep a secret from her castmates until her husband's legal battle was over
In new documents obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com, it was revealed Luis' ex Vanessa Reiser was arrested for a DUI
On September 22, 2023, the licensed therapist was caught drunk driving during a Monmouth County DWI Strike Force Checkpoint in New Jersey around 10:35pm.
According to the police report, the officer reported that he 'immediately detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage' from the passenger in a Jeep, who happened to be Reiser.
The officer also observed that her eyes were 'bloodshot and watery and she had droopy eyelids.'
Reiser informed the officer that she was coming from a friends' house in Red Bank and that she had only consumed 'two drinks,' according to the report.
After 'mumbling' while reciting the alphabet, as instructed by the cop, she was asked to exit her vehicle and take a Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test, a walk and turn test — which she opted to remove her heels for — and the one-leg stand test.
After missing 'heel to toe on all steps' and not being able to stand on one leg, the cop stopped testing 'for her safety' and placed her in handcuffs.
In the cop car, the police still smelled the 'strong odor of an alcoholic beverage' as he transferred Reiser to be processed at the Middletown Police Department.
She demanded to speak to her attorney as she refused to take the Alcotest, also known as a breathalyzer test.
During the episode that aired on July 21, Giudice invited her close castmates to her house to share what she had learned about her rival, Margaret Josephs; seen in February
A mugshot, that is not available to the public, was taken, and she was released soon after.
She was ultimately charged with operating a vehicle while under the influence, reckless driving, refusing to consent to take samples of breath and failure to possess a driver's insurance card (as hers was expired at the time).
Reiser had a court date scheduled shortly after in October 2023, in which DailyMail.com has learned that she entered a not guilty plea.
She also had a court hearing on August 8, 2024, but it has been pushed back to next month, which is when discovery for the case will be due.
Reiser's attorney released a statement when contacted by DailyMail.com, saying: 'Vanessa refused to take a breath test as the checkpoint was set up in an unconstitutional manner which gave the police no probable cause and was in violation of her 4th Amendment rights. No tests were done to demonstrate conclusively she was under the influence of anything and no alcohol was found in her blood. It was Red Bank’s first checkpoint in 10 years and they were stopping every car and not complying with the law.
'While we understand the need for these checkpoints, they must be conducted according the constitutional parameters. This matter against Vanessa and many others will be dismissed at the next or a follow up court date.'
During the episode of RHONJ in which Giudice, her attorney and her friends met to discuss what's been going on behind the scenes, the Housewives OG pointed out that her husband has been in court with his ex for the past three years.
'Recently, she filed a restraining order, claiming Luis has been harassing her,' she recounted to her castmates.
'So basically, she's been trying to ruin his reputation,' she continued. 'You don't do that. You don't put lies out there about someone and try to hurt them in any way.'
During the episode of RHONJ, Giudice, her attorney and her friends met to discuss what's been going on behind the scenes
Giudice also confessed that it was 'really stressful' dealing with the legal drama.
Meanwhile, her pal,Dolores Catania, said that Giudice was a 'mess' and has 'anxiety beyond anxiety.'
Danielle Cabral even took notice of the mom-of-four's weight loss and claimed her stress is causing her to be '90 pounds soaking wet.'
Cabral said: 'Teresa is distraught. Teresa is like a shell of the person she was last year because, in the house, there's not a lot of calm. There's not a lot of stability.'
The reason why Giudice hates Josephs so much, she revealed, is because of her connection with Ruelas' ex.
It was also revealed on the show that Ruelas' lawyer previously subpoenaed Josephs to court in November 2021.
The subpoena, exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com, was sent on November 12, and the court hearing was for November 17 of that year.
A source told DailyMail.com that Josephs had sent a Motion to Quash to Ruelas' lawyer because she 'barely knew Louie at that point.'
Their costars pointed out that Giudice was a 'mess' and has 'anxiety beyond anxiety'
Josephs has since confessed to speaking to Ruelas' ex and also dropped the bombshell during the RHONJ finale that Reiser went to Jackie Goldschneider's house to meet with her to get dirt about Ruelas at the time
'She barely knew Louie at that point, nor knew Vanessa Reiser, and certainly was not involved in their domestic dispute. Thus, Margaret did not appear in court and found it theatrical and laughable that she was even contacted,' the insider shared.
'She let the cast, production, and Louie's attorney know that she didn't want to be involved in their dirty laundry.'
Josephs has since confessed to speaking to Ruelas' ex and also dropped the bombshell during the RHONJ finale that Reiser went to Jackie Goldschneider's house to meet with her to get dirt about Ruelas at the time.
RHONJ's latest episode, a non-traditional reunion special, aired on August 11 on Bravo.
The cast will then 'most likely resume filming in 2025,' according to a source who spoke exclusively with DailyMail.com, as it's still not known if the show will be rebooted or if only a few cast members will be returning.
