More Details on Darien Playhouse Assault Arrests

According to Darien police, after a group of girls beat a 16-year-old Darien girl working the concession stand at Darien Playhouse in January, the 36-year-old woman who had brought them there turned to the victim and said:

"That's what you get."

That statement allegedly made by the older woman, which the victim reported to police, was a key reason why Darien police arrested the Stamford woman, Jessenia Maharaj of Randall Avenue, and charged her with assault, risk of injury to a minor and related crimes.

On March 4, Darien police issued a news release about the arrest. An arrest warrant filed in state Superior Court in Stamford and recently made available gives further details on the accusation.

The following account of the incidentis based on both the news release and arrest warrant and a statement by police Captain Frederick Komm:

At about 5:11 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 27, the group of three girls, a 14-year-old boy and Maharaj entered the lobby of the theater at 1077 Post Rd. The victim was in an ongoing dispute with one of the girls and also knew who Maharaj was, according to police.

The 16-year-old girl who was arrested told the victim, "So you want to get all crazy on the text, right?" The two girls had an ongoing dispute, according to police.

One of the girls opened a locked door to the concession stand, gaining entry, then the arrested girl went behind the concession stand, along with the boy and Maharaj. Except for the boy, the other two girls all started hitting the victim.

The victim received scrapes, small cuts and swelling on her face and was taken to Stamford Hospital by Darien EMS-Post 53, where she was treated and released.

Maharaj and the 16-year-old were "the principal attackers," according to the news release. In response to a question from Darien Patch on whether other arrests might be made, Darien Police Captain Frederick Komm said in an email: "We have arrested those persons responsible, and there will be no additional arrests."

A male coworker of the victim's told police he saw the incident and knew the girl who was later arrested. He tried to break up the fight and was punched in the head and hand by Maharaj.

Police were called, and at that point Maharaj and the four teenagers left the building and headed toward a parked car on Corbin Drive, according to the arrest warrant. The male coworker followed them and saw them enter a dark Honda. He took down the license plate number, which state police later were able to use to find Maharaj.

Maharaj later told police that she didn't know the fight was going to happen, since she was merely transporting the girls around. She drove to the theater to try to "diffuse the situation, she said.

She said the victim came around from behind the concession stand and attacked her daughter. Police said, however, that the male co-worker corroborated the victim's statement.

Maharaj was charged with third-degree assault, risk of injury to a minor, conspiracy to commit third-degree assault and breach of the peace. After she was told a warrant for her arrest had been issued, Maharaj went to Darien police headquarters on Thursday. She was arrested and released on a written promise to appear March 11 in state Superior Court in Stamford.

Police issued a juvenile summons to the 16-year-old girl, who was not otherwise identified, charging her with third-degree assault, conspiracy to commit third-degree assault and breach of the peace. She was to appear Feb. 19 in juvenile court in Stamford.