Originally published October 21, 2026. Updated Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 4:56 p.m. to include a statement from the YPD.

YONKERS, N.Y. — Westchester County Legislator candidate Kisha D. Skipper was detained by YPD 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.”

At 2:48 AM, Skipper made her first public statement on her Facebook campaign page, which contradicts Nolan’s on-the-record text last night (“Skipper got locked up”), captioned, “More To Come…”

“No, I was not arrested. Yes, I was detained pending an investigation. Of course, I was released, and there will be more information forthcoming.” She also pushes early voting starting Saturday.

UPDATE: The Yonkers Police Department has issued its first statement on Wednesday night’s altercation at the Beczak Environmental Education Center. According to Detective Lieutenant Frank DiDomizio, the department’s public information officer, officers responding at approximately 8:25 p.m. “detained one involved female for further investigation.” Police say a verbal dispute between two women — one running for public office, the other a former member of her campaign staff — inside a restroom “escalated into a physical confrontation,” during which a third woman, the mother of another candidate, “reportedly attempted to intervene, and sustained an abrasion to her lip.” She was treated at a local hospital and released. The detained woman was taken to the Detective Division and “subsequently released without charges pending further investigation,” and was also transported to a hospital for a complaint of pain. Police say no one is in custody, no criminal charges have been filed against any party, and the incident “appears to have precipitated from a personal matter and has not been determined to be politically motivated.” The investigation remains active.

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 Nolan and [could not make out second name] and I am the one who is being…” 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.

Black Westchester first contacted the Yonkers Police Department on Wednesday night. The department issued its statement Thursday afternoon (see update above) and says the incident remains under active investigation by its Detective Division

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 incident took place 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 that Skipper was the only one taken out in handcuffs and detained; 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 more information becomes available!

Share on Facebook

Post on X

Follow us

Save

AJ Woodson

AJ Woodson is the Editor-In-Chief and co-owner of Black Westchester, Host & Producer of the People Before Politics Radio Show, An Author, Journalism Fellow (Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism), Rap Artist – one third of the legendary underground rap group JVC FORCE known for the single Strong Island, Radio Personality, Hip-Hop Historian, Documentarian, Activist, Criminal Justice Advocate and Freelance Journalist
whose byline has appeared in several print publications and online sites including The Source, Vibe, the Village Voice, Upscale, Sonicnet.com, Launch.com, Rolling Out Newspaper, Daily Challenge Newspaper, Spiritual Minded Magazine, Word Up! Magazine, On The Go Magazine and several others.

All my books are available on Amazon or you can purchase my autographed copies directly from me at www.AJROKPublishing.com Pre-order your Autographed Deluxe Edition of “Black Women of Westchester” and the 914 Hip-Hop books (email MrAJWoodson@gnail,com for more info)

Follow me at Blue Sky https://bsky.app/profile/mrajwoodson.bsky.social and Spoutible https://spoutible.com/MrAJWoodson