A Stamford Police officer stands accused by witnesses of hitting a woman while conducting an arrest. The incident occured before the Alive at Five concert on Thursday allegedly behind The Palms nightclub at 78 West Park Place.

Lieutenant Sean Cooney of the Stamford Police says that the officer in question had asked one of the owners of the club, Brenda Mazriegos, to move a vehicle out of the parking area behind the establishment. The lot had been closed for the duration of the concert for crowd control purposes. Cooney says the officer in his report, said the woman and two men with her became antagonistic and Mazriegos hit the officer in the face while being arrested for not having a drivers license.

According to witnesses, the officer had struck Mazriegos in the face sending her to Stamford Hospital where she was treated and released. Mazriegos is charged with assault on a police officer, lack of a drivers license and breach of peace.