Police: Naked man who chased car was high on bath salts

Drug Enforcement Agency/File photo. Bath salts.

Prosecutors have charged an Altoona man with allegedly chasing a car last weekend weekend while high on bath salts, according to a report from The Altoona Mirror.

Police said 35-year-old Douglas Leary III chased a couple as they drove down his street on March 3.

Responding officers reportedly had to pepper spray Leary to subdue him. According to court documents, as officers handcuffed Leary, he said “I am on Blizzard” – a street name for synthetic stimulant “bath salts” that was outlawed in Pennsylvania nearly two years ago.

A passenger in the car later called 911 and claimed Leary appeared to be out of control and was flailing his arms wildly as he chased her and her boyfriend. She reportedly said she got out of the vehicle at one point to try and reason with Leary, but became scared and jumped back inside the vehicle when he approached.

Leary allegedly refused to get into a patrol car after his arrest and later resisted emergency room workers at Altoona Regional Health System.

He is charged with indecent exposure, open lewdness, disorderly conduct, public drunkenness and three counts of resisting arrest, according to court documents. Leary – who has in the past faced convictions in several counties for offenses ranging from drug possession to theft – is next due in court for a preliminary hearing on April 10.