A Butler County woman is accused of hitting her husband in the face — in front of a city police officer.

Moments earlier Thursday night, police said, Jessica M. Claypool, 25, had found another woman underneath a bed at the couple's apartment on Mercer Street.

Police arrested Claypool in connection with the suspected case of domestic violence. District Judge Lewis Stoughton arraigned her on a charge of simple assault. She was placed in the Butler County Prison on $5,000 bail following arraignment.

A disturbance report shortly after 8 p.m. led police to the apartment, where they found the defendant outside. She told them that her husband was inside with another woman.

“She requested that officers kick them both out,” Patrolman Nicholas Shulik said in his affidavit.

The victim, however, told police that there was no one else at the apartment.

Police said the officers informed Claypool that under the circumstances they could not remove her husband from the home.

“(She) was advised that (he) was allowed to have guests over to his residence,” the affidavit said, “and that they would need to work their personal issues out amongst themselves.”

Allegedly angry, Claypool went into the apartment. A short time later, police heard screaming, and went inside too.

“Once inside,” Shulik's affidavit said, “I found Claypool yelling at a female who was underneath of a bed.”

Around that point, police said, the defendant struck the victim in the face in Shulik's presence. The officer noted redness on the man's face where he was struck.