Cape Coral saw a different kind of construction drama late last month—one that had nothing to do with delayed permits or noise complaints.
Instead, deputies say a Florida man kicked off a one-man demolition tour that involved a stolen SUV, a porta-potty hideout, and a pair of wooden stakes that he apparently thought would help him outrun law enforcement…all while missing his pants.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office released records to The New York Post, revealing the details. 43-year-old Joshua Mulnix’s afternoon detour allegedly began after he wandered off a beach and onto a private property on October 27.
Officials noted he was “only wearing a pair of sweatpants” and seemed “to be on drugs,” per the arrest affidavit—an energy that quickly escalated.
Deputies say Mulnix approached a construction worker on-site, shouted at him for reasons known only to him, and tried to break into a shed. When that didn’t work, authorities say he spotted the worker’s white Nissan SUV sitting unlocked with the keys inside.
Mulnix allegedly hopped in and “aggressively accelerated” toward the worker, who managed to dodge the vehicle by jumping out of the way.
From there, the SUV’s next stop was straight through the property’s gate, which Mulnix reportedly plowed through before driving to another nearby location.
That’s where deputies responding to calls about a “suspicious male” tracked the suspect to a locked porta-potty.
When Mulnix finally emerged, officers say the sweatpants had vanished entirely—and the stakes had risen. Literally.
The affidavit states he bolted from the portable toilet “wielding two wooden stakes” as he ran from deputies.
Authorities say the attempted escape didn’t last long. Mulnix allegedly tried to break into yet another vehicle on the second property before a deputy used a Taser to subdue him. In total, officers estimate the damage from the SUV crash and related chaos at about $4,000.
Mulnix was taken to a hospital for evaluation and then booked into the Lee County Jail, where he was charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and criminal mischief.
Records indicate that he posted a $7,500 bail on November 4 and was released from custody. His arraignment is set for December 8, where pants will almost certainly be required.