STUART, Fla. (WFLA) — A Salvation Army bell ringer was arrested Tuesday after he allegedly tried to impale the manager of a Publix with his donation kettle tripod, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office said.
The man, Steven Pavlik, 63, was hired as a Salvation Army bell ringer and stationed at a collection site at a Publix on Kanner Highway.
“Drunk ringing, belligerent tidings and assault took him from bell duty to booking blotter after a full blown charity tirade,” the sheriff’s office said.
MCSO said that instead of spreading holiday cheer, Pavlik acted like “bad Santa,” becoming intoxicated on duty and confronting people walking by.
According to the sheriff’s office, the Publix manager went outside of the store to speak with Pavlik about the disturbances. Pavlov reportedly “became violent,” attempting to impale the manager with his donation kettle tripod, MCSO said.
The manager was not injured, the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post.
Pavlik fled, but deputies located him at his residence, where MCSO said he was taken into custody.
Pavlik was transported to the Martin County Jail and charged with aggravated assault and resisting arrest, MCSO said.