YONKERS, N.Y. — Westchester County Legislator candidate Kisha D. Skipper was arrested Wednesday night following an altercation with Donna Nolan, the mother of her opponent, incumbent Legislator James Nolan, during a candidates night at the Beczak Environmental Education Center, according to multiple sources.
Nolan, who told Black Westchester he was at the Yonkers Police Department’s detective division late Wednesday, said in a text message: “Skipper got locked up, and my mother went to the hospital. Skipper is on video throwing the first punch.”
According to an attendee who described the sequence to Black Westchester and asked not to be identified, Donna Nolan and a companion approached Skipper with a question and words were exchanged; Skipper then entered a restroom and the two women followed her in, where a fight ensued. Attendees said Donna Nolan emerged bloody and was taken from the venue by ambulance, and that Skipper was handcuffed and taken away. Video recorded by an attendee and obtained by Black Westchester shows a commotion at a restroom doorway as attendees separated the parties and escorted a woman from the area.
Yonkers Voice, which posted video of officers escorting Skipper from the building to a patrol car as an Empress EMS ambulance stood by, reported that the exchange began when Skipper was asked about alleged illicit donations to her campaign and left for the restroom without answering.
In the video, Skipper tells Yonkers Voice, “I was assaulted by Donna Nolon and [could not make out second name] and I am the one who is being arrested…” as officers escort her from view.
The candidates’ night, sponsored by the Ludlow Park Residents Association and the Hudson River Community Association and moderated by Yonkers Ledger political editor Phil Zisman, ran from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at 35 Alexander St. and featured candidates for federal, state and local office, including U.S. Rep. George Latimer and State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins.
The Yonkers Police Department had not issued a statement as of publication. Black Westchester has contacted the department seeking confirmation of the arrest, the charges, and Donna Nolan’s condition, which was not immediately known.
Black Westchester has sought comment from Skipper and her campaign and will publish if they wish to speak on the matter.
Skipper, president of the Yonkers branch of the NAACP, is the Democratic challenger for the District 15 County Legislature seat held by Nolan, a Republican. Early voting begins Saturday, October 24, with Election Day on Tuesday, November 3.
The arrest came the same day Black Westchester published former Skipper campaign treasurer Larnez Kinsey’s account of her resignation from the campaign amid questions about its finance filings.
We are also told there are Black leaders upset the Skipper was the only one arrested; we are in the process of seeing if we can get anyone to speak on the record.
This is a developing story. Black Westchester will update it as police and the campaigns respond.
