Christopher Man Suspected of Being on Bath Salts Goes on Spree
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[A police taser didn't phase a Christopher man who went on a Saturday afternoon crime spree. William Carpenter, 37, works as a prison guard and was arrested on 10 charges ranging from burglary to aggravated battery, in two different towns. Police now say they believe Carpenter may have been high off bath salts. Bath salts are a methamphetamine-type, drug that can cause hallucinations, paranoia, and psychotic behavior.
Carpenter's rant began in Christopher when he broke into a woman's garage. Police say Carpenter was trying to steal the car inside. Reports say Carpenter pried the mirror off and left a mason's trowel he used stuck in the door. Carpenter took a fan apart, plugged in a hair dryer, pulled out wires from a furnace, played with a hatchet, and poured gasoline on himself. He then went to Rend Lake Plaza in West City. He grabbed an elderly woman through the window of her car. As he choked her he demanded the keys to her car. He left when the woman started honking her horn, then choked two more ladies on the parking lot.
He fought with West City police when they arrived. He even head-butted the officers.
An officer tased him which didn't seem to work and was finally able to make an arrest.