Calif. man, high on 'bath salts,' allegedly struck woman with shovel, police say

(CBS) GLENDALE, Ca. - Glendale man Robert White was arrested on Thursday after he allegedly struck an elderly woman with a shovel, and later admitted to police that he had been drinking soda with the synthetic drug known as "bath salts," reports the Los Angeles Times. 

White, 20, is said to have struck the  woman and then locked himself in his apartment.  After about an hour, police located a key and opened the door, and subdued White with a Taser and rubber bullet.

Northwest Glendale Police Lt. Bruce Fox told the Times that White "seemed completely out of sorts."

Witnesses had told police how the woman asked White to stop swinging his shovel at birds. Shortly afterwards, he allegedly struck her.

One neighbor, Salbi Dgeredzyan, told the Times White told the woman, "I hate you and I want to kill you today."

Another resident, Abraham Cabrera, told the Times he heard White shouting profanities and breaking glass.

According to the Times, the woman, whose name wasn't released, was treated at a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.