Police say a home surveillance video captured the pursuit and blows following a doorbell-prank on Nov. 23.
LIGHTHOUSE POINT, Fla. — A South Florida firefighter turned himself in this week and now faces multiple felonies after police said he chased a group of teenagers with a baseball bat and struck them following a “ding-dong-ditch” prank outside his home late Nov. 23 on the city’s northeast side.
Authorities identified the suspect as Alex Michael Lutz, 31, a firefighter with Highland Beach Fire Rescue in neighboring Palm Beach County. He surrendered to Lighthouse Point police on Mon., Dec. 1, and appeared in Broward County court Tuesday morning. Investigators say the incident, recorded on home cameras and heard on nearby surveillance audio, left several teens hurt and prompted charges including aggravated battery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The case has drawn attention because it involves a first responder, because of the severity alleged in the video, and because the doorbell-ringing prank is common among youths but rarely leads to violence.
Police said the confrontation began around 9 p.m. on Nov. 23 when several teens riding a golf cart rang the doorbell at Lutz’s home on Northeast 24th Terrace and drove off. According to an incident report, a man soon ran from the house holding a baseball bat and chased after them. Officers said the teens traveled west toward Northeast 45th Street. There, the same man caught up to the golf cart, swung the bat at the vehicle and the riders, and continued the pursuit on foot. In surveillance audio reviewed by investigators, the teens can be heard screaming as the man shouts, “I will kill you,” the report states. A parent later reported injuries, and officers documented damage to the golf cart. “What we saw on the video concerned us,” a Lighthouse Point detective said in a brief interview outside the station Tuesday. “We moved quickly to identify the suspect and obtain a warrant.”
Investigators said “several” of the teens suffered injuries that included a dislocation, bruising and swelling. Police did not release the ages of the victims Tuesday but described them as minors who were out together using a golf cart in the neighborhood. The report said Lutz’s mother was the first to call 911, telling a dispatcher her husband and son had run after “kids” who had rung the bell and fled. When officers arrived at the house, Lutz did not initially come outside, according to the incident narrative. His father spoke with police and referenced Lutz’s “good job” with the fire department, saying he did not want to jeopardize it, the officers wrote. Detectives later sought and obtained an arrest warrant based on statements, the video and physical evidence.
The charges filed include two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of criminal mischief tied to damage reported to the golf cart. At a first appearance hearing Tuesday, a Broward County judge set bond at $35,000 and ordered that Lutz have no contact with the teens and not possess weapons or ammunition if released. Lutz bonded out of the Broward Sheriff’s Office Main Jail on Tuesday afternoon and walked past cameras without answering questions, referring inquiries to an attorney. Court records did not list a defense filing disputing the allegations by late Tuesday. Police said the investigation remains active as they continue to collect additional neighborhood footage and statements.
Lighthouse Point is a small residential city just north of Fort Lauderdale, where families often use street-legal golf carts in coastal neighborhoods. Officers said the teenagers appeared to be engaging in a common prank—ringing a doorbell and leaving quickly—on the Sunday before Thanksgiving week. While police emphasized that disorderly conduct can draw citations, they said the force alleged in this case went far beyond any reasonable response. The department declined to name the teens, citing their ages and privacy protections. Highland Beach Fire Rescue, where Lutz is employed, did not immediately respond to questions about his status. The agency serves a barrier-island community in Palm Beach County, roughly 20 miles north of Lighthouse Point along State Road A1A.
Procedurally, the Broward State Attorney’s Office will review the arrest report, video and medical records before deciding on formal charges in the coming days. If prosecutors file an information, Lutz would be arraigned at a later date and could enter a plea. If the case proceeds, the court could schedule pretrial hearings through January, and any motions regarding the admissibility of the surveillance footage would likely be argued before a trial date is set. Police said they expect to finish supplemental interviews this week and are canvassing for additional doorbell-camera clips along Northeast 45th Street that might show the pursuit from different angles. The department plans no public briefing beyond written updates unless new evidence emerges.
Neighbors who spoke briefly outside their homes Tuesday described a quiet area where children ride bikes and families walk dogs after dark. One resident said she heard “yelling and a thud” the night of Nov. 23 but did not see the chase itself. “We’re all shaken up,” said Marco Esposito, who lives a block from where officers marked scuff lines near the curb. “Kids make mistakes, but this went too far.” A parent of one teen said by phone that the group had been “ringing bells” and that her child was treated for swelling and is recovering at home. A Lighthouse Point officer said increased patrols will continue through the weekend as detectives complete their work, adding that the department has not received prior similar reports in the immediate area this fall.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Lutz remained free on bond under the court’s no-contact order, and the fire department had not announced any personnel decision. Prosecutors are expected to confirm charging decisions by early next week, with a status conference likely to follow. Police asked anyone with relevant video from the neighborhood to contact detectives as they finalize their case file.
Author note: Last updated December 3, 2025.