Port Manatee executive director charged with domestic battery

MANATEE -- Port Manatee Executive Director Carlos Buqueras became the third port employee Saturday to be arrested in recent months.

Buqueras was arrested on charges of domestic battery at 6:45 p.m. Saturday after an argument over household bills turned physical, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

Buqueras and his wife were at their home in the 3800 block of 155th Avenue East in Parrish when the dispute began, according to an incident report.

Deputies report Buqueras's wife "took off her wedding ring and threw it into the pool." This reportedly enraged Buqueras, who then allegedly pushed his wife to the ground.

In the past four months two other port employees have also been arrested.

On July 23, Robert Armstrong, former Port Manatee deputy executive director and chief financialofficer, was charged witha second-degree felonyfor accessory after the fact theft charges involving his son.

Armstrong's arrest came less than a month afterbeing fired from his position as the No. 2 official at the port.

On June 11, his son, Robert Benton Armstrong, was charged with 24 counts of burglary, defrauding a pawn shop and dealing in stolen property.

The thefts, which included property from the Port Authority where he was employed, dated as far back as Jan. 1.

Buqueras was released from custody at the Manatee County jail Sunday morning on $500 bond.

Jessica De Leon, law enforcement reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7049. You can follow her on Twitter@JDeLeon1012.

This story was originally published September 9, 2013 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Port Manatee executive director charged with domestic battery."