A Florida man is facing serious charges after allegedly chasing down three children on scooters who were playing the “ding dong ditch” prank in their neighborhood. The incident led to fears of serious harm, as the children were pursued by the man in his car.
The Incident
John Albanos, 51, has been arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated assault with the intent to commit a felony. The incident occurred on Saturday evening around 8:45 p.m. in the 1200 block of 28th Avenue North in Naples, Florida. Police were called after reports of a man chasing children on scooters, and officers arrived to investigate the disturbing situation.
According to the police report, the three minors involved, two of whom were 11 and 12 years old, were playing a harmless game of “ding dong ditch” when they were confronted by Albanos. This prank involves ringing someone’s doorbell and running away before they can answer.
However, Albanos, a neighbor, did not take kindly to the prank. Instead of simply confronting the children, Albanos allegedly got into his vehicle and began to chase them.
The Children’s Fear
The children, frightened by the approaching car, attempted to flee on their scooters. As they were heading back to one of their houses, they noticed Albanos speeding toward them in his car.
The children swerved off the road and into a nearby yard to escape being hit. They later told officers that they were genuinely scared for their lives during the chase.
“The three victims stated that Albanos was yelling at them and swerving the vehicle in their direction,” the police affidavit revealed. “All three victims said they had to move out of the way multiple times in fear of getting hit by the car.”
A Witness Steps In
A neighbor, who heard the yelling and witnessed the car speeding behind the children, came outside to intervene. The witness saw the vehicle turn around and speed directly toward the children on scooters, forcing them to dodge the car in order to stay safe.
The witness ran to stop the chase, and it appeared to work when Albanos turned his vehicle toward the witness instead of the children.
The witness’ wife called 911, and Albanos finally drove away from the scene. Authorities later made contact with Albanos at his home, where he admitted to chasing the children but claimed that he only wanted to “put the fear of God” into them, insisting he had no intention of hitting them.
The Arrest and Charges
Albanos was identified by the witness and was arrested soon after. He was charged with aggravated assault with the intent to commit a felony and taken to the Naples Jail Center for processing. Albanos later posted the $5,000 bond for his release. Parents of two of the children involved expressed their intent to press charges against him.
Albanos is set to appear in court for an arraignment on August 4.
The Aftermath
This case highlights the dangers of overreacting to pranks, especially when children are involved. While “ding dong ditch” may be a common prank among kids, Albanos’ decision to chase the minors in his car put their lives in danger.
His actions have led to serious legal consequences, and the children’s parents are determined to hold him accountable for what happened that night.
The incident serves as a reminder that even small pranks can escalate quickly, and the safety of children should always come first. Albanos will face his day in court next month, where the charges against him will be addressed.
