Pensacola man charged with fracturing friend's leg in Manatee County argument

MANATEE -- A Pensacola man has been charged with hitting his girlfriend and fracturing the leg of a mutual friend after an argument, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

Charles Edward Speiser, 46, was arrested at 10:06 p.m. Tuesday in the 3600 block of First Street.

Speiser and his girlfriend were arguing while in a vehicle when Speiser reportedly began striking his girlfriend in the right leg, causing minor injuries.

A friend in the back seat with Speiser's girlfriend tried to stop the attack by getting in between them. Speiser began striking and kicking the friend causing two fractures of the right leg. The victim told deputies he also punched her in the face twice.

The victim was transported to Manatee Memorial Hospital for treatment where the girlfriend told deputies the victim crawled out of the car screaming for help.

Deputies found Speiser sleeping on the ground in front of the vehicle at the hospital. He reportedly told deputies the fight was between his girlfriend and friend and he had nothing to do with it.

Speiser was charged with domestic and felony battery. Booking information was not immediately available.

This story was originally published November 18, 2015 at 7:58 PM with the headline "Pensacola man charged with fracturing friend's leg in Manatee County argument ."