Background: News footage of the porta potty where Joshua Mulnix hid (WBBH). Inset: Joshua Mulnix (Lee County Sheriff”s Office).
In a bizarre series of events in Florida, a man is accused of stealing a construction worker’s vehicle, attempting to run over the owner, and then hiding in a portable toilet while removing his pants.
The suspect, identified as 43-year-old Joshua Mulnix, was taken into custody by the Sanibel Police Department on October 27. He has since been released on bond. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, the police were called to a report of a stolen vehicle in Sanibel, a location just off the coast of Cape Coral, at approximately 4:16 p.m. that day. Upon arrival, a construction worker recounted that Mulnix had appeared from a nearby beach clad only in sweatpants and wandered onto private property.
The worker explained to officers that when he asked Mulnix to vacate the property, Mulnix refused and attempted to break into a shed. Failing to gain entry, Mulnix then turned his attention to the worker’s unlocked white Nissan SUV, which had the keys inside.
According to the affidavit, Mulnix jumped into the driver’s seat, started the vehicle, and aggressively accelerated towards the construction worker. Fortunately, the worker managed to leap out of harm’s way, avoiding any injury. He then witnessed Mulnix drive off in the SUV, crashing through the property gate and heading towards Captiva.
In a related incident, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a “suspicious male” fitting Mulnix’s description. The affidavit reveals that Mulnix allegedly parked the stolen Nissan on another property and then dashed into a nearby portable toilet.
Authorities noted that the second caller reported the man appeared to be under the influence of drugs.
When Mulnix emerged from the porta potty as law enforcement arrived, a deputy witnessed him “fleeing on foot” and “wielding two wooden stakes.” Mulnix, stakes still in hand and now without his pants, headed toward another vehicle, and the deputy subdued him with a taser.
The affidavit stated that a pair of gray sweatpants was found inside the porta potty that Mulnix was seen entering. His alleged outing in the construction worker’s Nissan is said to have caused around $4,000 in property damage.
Mulnix was taken into custody and then to a hospital. After being taken to Lee County Jail, he was charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and criminal mischief. He posted $7,500 bail on Nov. 4 and was released from custody. His arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 8.
