Superior man faces charges in early morning stabbing at Mama's Bar

A Superior man accused of stabbing another man in a bar parking lot early Sunday morning made an initial appearance in Douglas County Circuit Court on Monday.

Joshua T. Fuerstenau, 40, faces one felony count of substantial battery and one count of misdemeanor bail jumping stemming from an incident that occurred in the parking lot of Mama’s Bar, 1019 Ogden Ave. He was released on a $400 cash bond with the condition that he have no contact with the victim, and not use or possess alcohol, dangerous weapons, drugs or drug paraphernalia.

According to the criminal complaint:

Fuerstenau got into a verbal altercation with a female bartender.

Witnesses described him as being “in her face.”

A customer, Joseph Crum, 29, of Superior stepped between the bartender and Fuerstenau to protect her. He was stabbed in the abdomen with a pocket knife. Crum sustained a deep puncture wound that required immediate surgery.

According to a witness statement from the bartender, Fuerstenau was angry because it was bar closing time. The argument appeared to be about a minor car accident that had occurred outside the business.

Dee Diler, who works at Mama’s Bar, said Crum has been coming to the establishment for nearly a year. She was especially thankful to him for what he did. The bartender Crum protected is Diler’s daughter.

“He went to go for Amanda; Joe stepped in the way,” she said. “He took it.”

Diler said Crum was released from the hospital Tuesday. He stopped by the bar for a can of pop Wednesday.

“He looks a lot better than he did,” she said. Diler also said Crum currently has no health insurance.

Fuerstenau’s next scheduled court appearance is Wednesday.

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