A Salvation Army bell ringer was arrested this week after deputies say he tried to stab a Publix supermarket manager with the metal tripod that holds a holiday donation kettle outside a store on Kanner Highway, then fled before being taken into custody at his residence.
The confrontation unfolded during the Christmas week rush and drew a swift response from Martin County deputies. Authorities identified the bell ringer as Steven Scott Pavlik, 63, and said he was booked on aggravated assault and resisting arrest. No injuries were reported. The incident has prompted questions about holiday staffing and safety outside busy storefronts, while law enforcement reviews witness accounts and store camera footage to determine whether additional charges or diversion options will be considered.
Deputies said the disturbance began Dec. 24 when the store manager stepped outside to address complaints that the bell ringer was intoxicated and confronting shoppers near the entrance. The exchange escalated, authorities said, as the man picked up the stand that supports the red kettle and drove it toward the manager in a thrusting motion. “He attempted to impale the manager,” investigators wrote in an initial summary. The manager retreated and was not struck. The man left the scene before deputies arrived, according to the sheriff’s office, and the store continued operating while employees moved customers away from the entryway.
Investigators said the suspect was later found at his home and arrested without further incident. He was taken to the county jail and booked on one count of aggravated assault and one count of resisting arrest. Authorities said the kettle stand — a three-legged metal frame — was recovered as evidence. Officials did not release the manager’s name, citing store policy. The Salvation Army said it was gathering information about the incident and cooperating with law enforcement. Publix representatives did not immediately provide additional details about any internal review or security changes at the Stuart location.
The clash happened outside a Publix along the 1500 block of Kanner Highway, a corridor of grocery, retail and service businesses frequented by holiday shoppers from Stuart and nearby communities. Holiday kettle sites are common outside grocery stores across Florida each December, with paid seasonal workers and volunteers ringing bells to solicit small donations. While disturbances at kettle stands are rare, law enforcement records show occasional reports of intoxication or panhandling disputes near storefronts during peak shopping periods. Officials said they plan to review surveillance video and any 911 recordings from the afternoon to corroborate witness accounts and to map where the confrontation occurred relative to the store entrance.
After booking, cases of this type typically move to the State Attorney’s Office for formal charging decisions. Deputies said their report will include statements from the store manager and any witnesses, along with photographs of the stand and the scene. Court records for the arrest were not immediately available late Sunday, and bond information was not released. If prosecutors proceed, a first appearance would be scheduled in Martin County, followed by an arraignment in the coming weeks. The Salvation Army said seasonal hiring in the region concludes at the end of December, and any employment decisions regarding the bell ringer will be addressed after the legal process begins.
Shoppers who passed through the entrance shortly after the incident described a brief scramble before the area calmed. “People were startled and stepped back, and then a worker came out and told us to use the other doors,” said a customer who asked to be identified only as Maria, citing privacy concerns. A grocery employee who was not authorized to speak publicly said the tripod was removed quickly and the entryway was reopened. Outside, the familiar bell was silent as deputies collected the kettle and stand for evidence and spoke with store staff.
As of Monday morning, Pavlik remained charged with aggravated assault and resisting arrest, and no injuries had been reported. Deputies said additional updates would be released after surveillance video is reviewed and the case is forwarded to prosecutors for charging decisions.
Author note: Last updated December 29, 2025.