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Inset: Steven Pavlik (Martin County Sheriff”s Office). Background: The Publix supermarket at Kanner Crossing in Stuart, Florida (Google Maps).
A Salvation Army volunteer, tasked with ringing a bell, allegedly attempted to attack a manager at Publix after the store employee objected to the bell ringer’s inebriated behavior, which reportedly included “confronting people” near the entrance, according to Florida officials.
Steven Pavlik, 63, faces charges of aggravated assault and resisting arrest, as detailed by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office in a press statement.
The exact timing of the incident was not specified, but authorities noted it occurred in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Pavlik was engaging in “part-time Christmas charity work” as a Salvation Army bell ringer stationed at the Kanner Crossing Publix in Stuart, as per the sheriff’s office announcement on Wednesday.
Contrary to spreading seasonal joy, Pavlik allegedly started “aggressively confronting passersby,” resulting in a significant commotion outside the store, according to the authorities.
Authorities believe the defendant was drunk at the time.
The store manager of the Publix supermarket reportedly came outside to speak to Pavlik, but the suspect was apparently not interested in a chat. The defendant “became violent and attempted to impale the manager with the donation kettle tripod,” the sheriff’s office said, noting the employee was not hurt.
Pavlik subsequently left the area, and law enforcement responded.
Deputies ended up finding the defendant at his home, and he was arrested and booked into the Martin County Jail. As of Saturday, he is no longer listed as being in custody.
Salvation Army bell ringers set up in public spaces and ring a bell to attract new people and encourage donations for the less fortunate.
Stuart is located on the state’s Atlantic Coast, about 100 miles north of Miami.