Vanessa Barcelo of Hialeah, Florida, was arrested on December 21 for allegedly assaulting David Duperon at a party she threw at her home to promote her baking business. Duperon, 34, claims Barcelo, 26, pushed him from behind with an aluminum baseball bat and struck him him on his right shoulder. An unknown man reportedly joined the altercation and repeatedly hit the victim in the face and eye area.
Barcelo has been charged with aggravated battery, simple battery, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. She was held at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and was later released after paying a $1,500 bond. The press did not name an attorney for Barcelo.
According to the police report, the alleged incident took place on Wednesday night at a house party Barcelo threw to promote her cake business, One Love Cakes. Barcelo and several of her guests purportedly became heavily intoxicated and at some point Duperon got into a heated argument with Barcelo, who reportedly ordered him to leave.
After Duperon left the house, Barcelo and an unknown man allegedly followed him and started pushing him on the sidewalk. Barcelo was reportedly armed with a baseball bat, which she used to strike Duperon on the shoulder. When Duperon disarmed Barcelo, the unknown man punched him in the face and knocked him down, and continued hitting him while he was on the ground.
Duperon called Hialeah police and had Barcelo arrested for aggravated assault. She denied striking the victim, but reportedly had blood on her hands that matched a cut under Duperon’s left eye. Duperon was taken to a hospital for treatment and is to have eye surgery today.
Barcelo suffered no injuries from the incident. She told news sources that she acted in defense because Duperon reportedly attacked her cousin during the party. Barcelo was crowned Miss Miami Lakes this year and was a contestant for Miss Florida USA, but did not win.