22-year-old City Councillor Deannie Requena and her 42-year-old mother were taken to the Domestic Violence Unit of the Queen Street police station in a police vehicle last night after what has been described as an ugly domestic dispute between mother and daughter.
And, it all started with the contents of a Coca-Cola bottle. Requena claims that she gave some of the soft drink to her three-year-old son, but her mother told police that it was in fact a man in Requena's company who drank some of the Coke.
Really petty stuff, but these things happen in families and it exploded into a major brawl between the two women - with both of them reported scratch injuries.
Late this evening we spoke to the City councillor via phone and she gave us her side of the story and explained that this is just the latest incident in a long cycle of abuse.
Deannie Requena, City Councillor
"Every time when my mom would have any financial issues, she would take it out on me and It has gotten to a point as an adult now, me and my baby are enduring that same treatment. The last incident that occurred started over a coke, a simple coke. I have no idea how much the coke cost because I do not purchase coke. I don't drink that me or my child I allowed to drink it, however, that day Kyrie wanted some and when the baby, the baby got a little bit, um, a little bit of the coke and when she came home she asked about it and I told her papa wanted a little bit of the coke so I gave him I told her because Kyrie usually doesn't ask me for coke because we don't drink that. And she said this is why I can't wait for you all to F-ing get out of my house. I'm tired of you guys here with me and then she started taking away my baby's toys from him and that is when I got involved and I told her not even me acts that way with my baby and she's like stop because Kyrie is only 3 years old. He is a kid, you are taking away coke that we can buy back. This is a 2 days incident. This started from the night before with Kyrie and her incident with the coke. That night was just a whole lot of back-and-forth things and my mom insulting me. The police actually are stationed at the end of my lane. They are there 24-7 so she yelled for them they came and they called for backup and when the other police came um I was showing them my injuries like all the scratches on my chest around my neck and even when they were there seeing the injuries she started to attack me again even hitting me with cement blocks."
Cherisse Halsall
"This all has to be really has to be embarrassing for you as a public figure, as a young woman elected to the city council, what was going through your mind when you found yourself in this public altercation?"
Deannie Requena, City Councillor
"Honestly, I am not really ashamed because this is something that has been a secret within my family for years. It is something that I had to endure as a child being locked up at the piss house from age 12. You can look up in the files, it's always something every year, so at the end of the day I have no regrets for whatever is coming up now. I just hope that whatever is being said and documented about me is facts, because at no point would I ever put my hand on my mother when I am in her house. I honestly don't understand it, everybody knows I protect my mom at all costs. My dad died from when I was one and from then I always said, my dad is not here but I am here to protect me and my mom. Now, when I see how this lady literally dragged me in my clothes, dig up my skin, I said this is no love."
According to Requena, the cops asked her whether she'd be pressing charges after they witnessed part of the altercation. She says she declined to do so explaining that her mother is her mother and that she was willing to forget the incident and just put it behind them.
So, from what we have been able to determine neither side made a formal report.
