Background: The 1200 block of 28th Ave North in Naples, Florida (Google Maps) Inset: John Albanos (Collier County Sheriff”s Office)
Children performing a “ding dong ditch” prank suddenly feared for their lives when one neighbor chased them down with his car, authorities said.
John Albanos, 51, has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault with the intent to commit a felony. He was arrested on Saturday.
Officers from the Naples Police Department reported that they arrived at the scene around 8:45 p.m. on the 1200 block of 28th Avenue North in Naples, Florida. They were responding to a call about a man who was reportedly “chasing kids on scooters.”
Three children informed an officer that they had been “ding dong ditching” in the area, which features a mobile home and RV park. They said a resident suddenly emerged from a house, got into their vehicle, and started pursuing them, according to a probable cause affidavit. Among the children, one was 11 years old and another was 12, while the age of the third child was unspecified.
The kids shared with authorities that they quickly got back on their scooters and were heading to one of their homes when they noticed a car was speeding towards them. In an effort to evade the vehicle, later identified as being driven by Albanos, they veered off the road into a nearby yard.
The affidavit maintains that they feared for their lives.
“The three victims stated that Albanos was yelling at them and swerving the vehicle in the direction they were in,” the document states. “All three victims said they had to move out of the way multiple times in fear of getting hit by the car.”
The police officers also made contact with the witness who had initially called them. A neighbor told officers that he heard yelling coming from outside his home and “observed a vehicle speeding behind two boys on scooters.” The neighbor further saw the vehicle “turn around and travel directly at the victims at high speed onto a neighboring driveway.”
The witness recounted that he ran outside and tried to get the suspect to stop chasing the minors and instead focus on him. This appeared to work, as Albanos “started yelling at him and turned the vehicle towards him.” The witness’ wife came out of their house and told the suspect she called 911, and he drove away.
When officers arrived at Albanos’ home, he didn’t deny chasing them, per the affidavit.
“Officers arrived at Albano’s residence, and he stated he wanted to put the fear of god into the victims but said he didn’t want to actually hit the victims with his vehicle,” the document states.
The male witness later “positively identified” Albanos as the suspect, and Albanos was arrested and brought to the Naples Jail Center to be processed. Parents for two of the children shared their desire to press charges against him.
Court records show Albanos paid the $5,000 bond to be released from jail. He is set to be arraigned in court on Aug. 4.
