News Summary
Daunasia Yancey, deputy director in Mayor Michelle Wu’s Office of LGBTQ+ Advancement, is on unpaid leave after facing felony assault charges. The charges stem from an altercation involving her partner’s ex-wife. Yancey was arrested on April 11 and is scheduled to appear in court on July 10. Her case raises questions about accountability and the city’s policies regarding employee arrests, especially in sensitive matters such as domestic violence.
Boston – Daunasia Yancey, 33, a deputy director in Mayor Michelle Wu’s Office of LGBTQ+ Advancement, is currently on unpaid leave following felony assault charges. Yancey, a resident of Jamaica Plain, was arrested on April 11, 2025, after an altercation involving her partner’s ex-wife in Roxbury.
Yancey faces charges of assault and battery and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. The incident occurred while she was with her partner retrieving personal belongings, including a birth certificate. According to a police report, Yancey allegedly attacked the victim by grabbing her, throwing her out of bed, and slamming her against a wall, which was identified as the dangerous weapon in the charges. The victim also reported being punched in the neck during the altercation.
Following her arrest, Yancey disclosed the incident to the City of Boston. She was initially placed on paid leave on April 15, but transitioned to unpaid leave on May 7 after the city received further detailed information about the charges against her. Despite her legal troubles, Yancey remains employed by the City of Boston.
Yancey’s biography was removed from the City Hall website after her arrest was reported, and her annual salary from the previous year was recorded at $116,571 according to city payroll records. She is scheduled to appear again in Boston Municipal Court on July 10 for further proceedings regarding her case.
The circumstances of Yancey’s continued employment present a stark contrast to the swift action taken against two lower-level city employees who were arrested on domestic violence charges in mid-May. Marwa Khudaynazar, the chief of staff for the Office of Police Accountability, and her boyfriend were fired within days of their arrests, with officials citing their attempts to misuse their positions to escape consequences.
The mayor’s office has defended Yancey’s employment status, stating that the city adheres to due process in handling situations where employees are arrested. This policy allows for employees to be placed on leave while the details of the charges are thoroughly reviewed.
Yancey has been a prominent figure in Boston’s social justice scene, having founded the Boston Black Lives Matter chapter in 2014. Her leadership roles have significantly impacted the community, particularly in matters related to LGBTQ+ advocacy. Her involvement in city governance reflects a commitment to these social issues.
In a related development, Chelsea police officer Michael Villanueva, 33, was arrested early Thursday morning on charges of domestic assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Similar to Yancey’s case, Villanueva has also been placed on administrative leave pending the results of his legal proceedings, demonstrating a response to serious allegations within the civic framework.
The situation involving Yancey and other public officials highlights ongoing discussions about accountability, due process, and how cities manage allegations against employees, particularly in sensitive areas like domestic violence. The outcome of Yancey’s legal proceedings and employment status remains to be seen as the court dates approach and further evaluations of the city’s policies may arise from these incidents.
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Additional Resources
- WHDH: Chelsea Police Officer Arrested
- Google Search: Domestic Assault
- NBC Boston: Chelsea Police Officer Domestic Violence Charge
- Wikipedia: Domestic Violence
- Boston Herald: City Hall Official on Unpaid Leave
- Google Scholar: Domestic Violence Law
- WCVB: Officer Boston Assault Battery Charge
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Domestic Violence
- Boston Globe: Daunasia Yancey Arrested
- Google News: Allegations Against Public Officials
