Teen Boy Assaulted After 'Ding Dong Ditch' Prank, Home Resident Arrested: PWC Police

WOODBRIDGE, VA – Prince William County police have arrested a man they say assaulted a boy who rang his doorbell and walked away.

According to the Prince William County Police Department, the reported assault occurred on Monday afternoon on the 14200 block of Radford Court. They say that at about 4:20 p.m., a 14-year-old boy walking with a friend rang a residence’s doorbell and walked off.

Police say the occupant of the home, Byron Steve Sandoval Polanco, 22, of Woodbridge, found the boy, confronted him, assaulted him, and then left the area in a vehicle. The boy was injured and was treated by medics.

Sandoval Polanco was arrested on Wednesday and charged with malicious wounding.

Prince William police told Patch the responding officer's report said the boys were doing a "ding dong ditch" prank.

Police in neighboring Loudoun County have been warning about what they call a dangerous “Door Kick” or “Ding Dong Ditch” trend recently spreading on social media (though the prank long predates TikTok and its ilk). They're asking parents to discourage their children from such pranks and asking residents not to confront pranksters at their doors.