The man accused of stabbing a Puyallup WinCo Foods grocery store employee during a theft attempt, then leading deputies on a dangerous chase before crashing head-on into a van, will remain incarcerated after a Pierce County court commissioner set bail at $75,000 during his initial appearance.
Joshua Mineer appeared in Pierce County Superior Court on Tuesday, where the stabbing victim directly addressed the court about Mineer’s actions and urged Commissioner Barbara McInvaille to keep him detained. McInvaille ruled that Mineer would be held on $75,000 bail, citing concerns about public safety and his criminal history.
The victim is a WinCo Foods loss prevention officer who reportedly attempted to prevent Mineer from stealing merchandise and was subsequently stabbed and slashed with a box cutter during the confrontation in the store.
In the courtroom, Mineer appeared emotionless as he was brought before the judge in a wheelchair whilst facing charges of assault, robbery, and eluding law enforcement. His defence attorney requested that he be released without bail, arguing that Mineer lacks financial resources to pay any bail amount regardless of how it might be set.
The series of chaotic events across Puyallup began Sunday with a reported theft at the WinCo Foods location and the stabbing of the loss prevention officer who intervened.
Pierce County Sheriff’s Deputy Carly Cappetto explained that surveillance video shows the suspect leaving the confrontation in broad daylight and entering the passenger seat of a U-Haul truck that immediately fled the scene. At one point during the subsequent pursuit, authorities stated Mineer forcibly removed the female driver from the vehicle and took control himself, leading deputies on a dangerous chase through city streets before crashing head-on into a civilian van, a collision that resulted in his arrest.
Days after the incident, the stabbing victim, Damon McDaniel, provided testimony to the court emphasising how close he came to death during the encounter.
“I would like this court to recognise that Mr. Mineer has a blatant disregard for human life and the law. If he had anything other than a box cutter, I wouldn’t be here today,” McDaniel stated. “His reckless, homicidal behaviour has no place in our community, and I’m requesting that he be held without bail and he be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
The prosecuting attorney echoed McDaniel’s concerns about public safety, citing witness accounts of the attack’s severity.
“Witnesses did report there were four distinct stabbing motions that were seen and witnessed. Therefore, the state has great community safety concerns,” the attorney representing the state added, emphasising that Mineer made multiple deliberate attempts to inflict serious harm rather than a single impulsive action.
Court Commissioner Barbara McInvaille noted significant concern over Mineer’s criminal history, which includes previous charges for assault, harassment, and domestic violence, a pattern suggesting escalating dangerous behaviour.
“The disregard for the law, for public safety, is very large and very concerning to the court,” McInvaille stated whilst announcing her bail decision, indicating that the combination of current charges and prior criminal conduct influenced her determination that Mineer poses substantial risks if released.
The loss prevention officer was wearing a protective vest during the confrontation that prevented the box cutter from inflicting deep cuts to vital organs, and medical personnel expect him to recover fully from his injuries, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office. The occupants of the van struck during the pursuit crash also did not report serious injuries, though the collision caused significant vehicle damage.
