A bizarre incident in Sanibel, Florida, ended with a man hiding inside a portable toilet after allegedly stealing a construction worker’s car and attempting to run him over.
According to an arrest affidavit, 43-year-old Joshua Mulnix was arrested by the Sanibel Police Department on October 27 after a chaotic chain of events that began around 4:16 p.m. Officers responded to reports of a stolen vehicle near a construction site off the coast of Cape Coral.
A construction worker told police that Mulnix emerged from a nearby beach wearing only sweatpants before trespassing onto private property. When the worker asked him to leave, Mulnix allegedly refused and tried to break into a shed. After failing to get inside, he reportedly noticed the worker’s white Nissan SUV, which had been left unlocked with the keys inside.
Mulnix then jumped into the vehicle, started the engine, and “aggressively accelerate[d]” toward the worker, according to the affidavit. The victim managed to leap out of harm’s way before Mulnix sped off through the property gate toward Captiva, causing approximately $4,000 in property damage.
A short time later, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a “suspicious male” matching Mulnix’s description. Authorities said he parked the stolen Nissan on another property before fleeing into a nearby porta potty, where he removed his pants.
When deputies arrived, Mulnix allegedly burst out of the toilet “wielding two wooden stakes” and attempted to flee on foot. A deputy used a taser to subdue him before taking him into custody. Officers found a pair of gray sweatpants inside the portable toilet.
Mulnix was transported to a hospital for evaluation and later booked into Lee County Jail. He faces multiple charges, including grand theft of a motor vehicle, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and criminal mischief.
He posted $7,500 bail on November 4 and was released from custody. His arraignment is scheduled for December 8.
Also Read: Florida Man Accused of Stealing Elderly Woman’s Home Through Real Estate Fraud and Cruel Abuse
