Staff report

NEWBERRY, Fla. – Brien Edward Wuenstel, 52, was arrested yesterday morning and charged with burglary with battery and child abuse after allegedly dragging a juvenile out of his car and punching him after an incident in the parking lot of the Hardee’s in Newberry.

At about 10:15 a.m., Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a call about a physical fight at Hardee’s (24915 W. Newberry Road) in Newberry.

The caller reported that a man had jumped in the bed of a truck that was trying to leave the scene of a minor parking lot incident; the caller said the man, later identified as Wuenstel, was banging on the rear window of the truck, telling the driver to return to Hardee’s. After the driver returned to Hardee’s, he reportedly tried to leave again, and Wuenstel allegedly jumped in the truck bed again.

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The responding deputy reported that when he arrived at 10:24 a.m., he saw Wuenstel opening the driver’s side door of the truck and pulling the juvenile driver out of the truck; Wuenstel then allegedly punched the juvenile in the face. The juvenile driver reportedly punched Wuenstel to defend himself, and the deputy reported that this went on for about 10 seconds before the two were separated.

Wuenstel completed pre-trial intervention for burglary and grand theft in 1991 and had adjudication of guilt withheld on a felony battery charge in 1998; his other charges have been driving without a valid license (1991-1994) and passing worthless checks (1995-1998).

Bail information is unavailable on weekends.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.