The Salvation Army bell ringers bring the Christmas spirit to life outside stores across America.
Their cheerful bells signal the season of giving as families head inside to shop.
But a drunk Florida Salvation Army bell ringer used a donation tripod in one way that left police stunned.
A Christmas Tradition Turns Into a Crime Scene
Steven Pavlik signed up to work as a Salvation Army bell ringer this holiday season outside a Publix supermarket in Stuart, Florida.
The 63-year-old had been stationed at his post since Thanksgiving.
But on December 23, just two days before Christmas, Pavlik's charitable work took a violent turn.
He allegedly got drunk on duty and started aggressively harassing shoppers walking into the store.
The situation spiraled out of control when the Publix manager came outside to address the growing disturbance.
That's when Pavlik grabbed his donation kettle tripod and allegedly tried to impale the manager with it.
The Martin County Sheriff's Office had a field day with their description of the incident.
"Sixty-three-year-old Steven Pavlik tried his hand at some part-time Christmas charity work — however, drunk ringing, belligerent tidings and assault took him from bell duty to booking blotter after a full-blown charity tirade," the sheriff's office wrote on Facebook.¹
https://twitter.com/Founding_Belief/status/2004737602331570262?s=20
The Arrest Got Even Stranger
The manager wasn't injured during the attack.
Pavlik fled the scene before deputies arrived.
But law enforcement tracked him down at his home less than two miles from the Publix.
Deputies knocked on Pavlik's door around 8:40 p.m.
What happened next sounds like something out of a bad movie.
Pavlik answered the door "holding a large knife in his hand, in a raised manner," according to the arrest report.²
He dropped the knife when deputies ordered him to do so.
Then Pavlik allegedly claimed "he had a bionic eye" that recorded his interaction with authorities and that he was "going to see us again" in federal court.³
He briefly tried to pull away from deputies before they took him into custody.
Pavlik was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest.
His bond was set at $3,000.
https://twitter.com/SparrowManYO/status/2005273909898117149?s=20
This Isn't Just About One Bad Volunteer
The Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign is an American institution.
For over 100 years, those red kettles and bell ringers have been a fixture outside stores during the holidays.
The campaign raises money to help feed the homeless, provide toys to children, and assist families in need.
But this incident exposes a bigger problem that's been plaguing the Salvation Army for years.
The organization has struggled to find enough bell ringers for the past 15 years.
Many locations now pay ringers rather than relying on volunteers because they simply can't fill the positions.
And some major retailers have stopped allowing bell ringers on their property over liability concerns.
The Salvation Army carries insurance, but retailers worry about being held responsible if something goes wrong.
Well, something went very wrong in Stuart, Florida.
This raises uncomfortable questions about volunteer screening and supervision during the busy holiday season.
How does someone who's intoxicated and aggressive stay at their post long enough to create a "major disturbance"?
Where was the oversight?
The Salvation Army depends on temporary workers and volunteers to staff their annual fundraising efforts.
But when those workers show up drunk and attack store managers, it puts the entire operation at risk.
The overwhelming majority of bell ringers serve honorably.
They stand outside in the cold for hours ringing bells so the Salvation Army can help people in need.
But it only takes one bad actor to tarnish the organization's reputation and give retailers another reason to ban kettles from their property.
Stuart is a coastal city about 100 miles north of Miami.
The community expects to see cheerful bell ringers collecting donations during Christmas.
They don't expect to witness drunken attacks with donation equipment.
Pavlik's alleged behavior violated the trust that makes the Red Kettle Campaign work.
Shoppers need to feel safe approaching the kettles to make donations.
Store managers need to trust that volunteers won't create disturbances that drive customers away.
And the Salvation Army needs to maintain its reputation as a legitimate charity worthy of public support.
This incident threatens all of that.
The Martin County Sheriff's Office made light of the situation with their humorous Facebook post.
But there's nothing funny about a violent attack, even if the weapon of choice was a donation kettle tripod.
The Salvation Army and Publix declined to comment on the incident when contacted by media outlets.
That silence speaks volumes about how embarrassing this situation is for everyone involved.
The Red Kettle Campaign runs through the end of December.
Donations collected during this time fund the Salvation Army's operations for the entire year.
Every dollar counts.
And every incident like this one makes it harder for the organization to raise those critical funds.
Pavlik's Christmas charity work ended with him in jail facing serious criminal charges.
The store manager he allegedly attacked escaped without injury.
But the damage to the Salvation Army's reputation?
That's going to take a lot longer to repair.
¹ Martin County Sheriff's Office, Facebook post, December 24, 2025.
² Bob D'Angelo, "Salvation Army bell ringer accused of attacking store manager with kettle tripod," Cox Media Group, December 29, 2025.
³ Ibid.
