Release Date: Tuesday, December 29, 2009

           One man is hospitalized and another arrested after they got into a physical confrontation late Monday night outside a local bar.

Michael Paul, 23, of 980 W. Zaragossa St., Pensacola, is charged with aggravated battery.

The victim – Edwin Hansen, 33, of 742 Tanglewood Dr., Pensacola – is in critical condition in a local hospital.

Around 11:15 p.m. Monday, Paul and Hansen were told to leave the Wisteria Bar, 3808 N. 12^th Ave., after they exchanged words inside the bar. A bystander later told police he heard a loud thud in the parking lot, went to investigate and found Hansen lying on the ground.

Paul then reportedly got into a car and left. He was later found in the 1800 block of East Lakeview Street but ran from police. A K-9 track found him hiding behind a garage in the 1800 block of North 19^th Avenue.

A motive for the incident remains under investigation.