CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Kanawha County sheriff's deputies have made their second "bath salts" related arrest in a week.

Lt. Sean Crosier of the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department said deputies were called to the home of Eugene Taylor in Clendenin at about 10 p.m. Tuesday after Taylor, 86, called police to report he was being threatened by a family member with a rifle.

Crosier said Wesley J. Taylor, 19, of Clendenin, allegedly went to the elder Taylor's house with three rifles and began pointing the weapons at him and pulling the trigger.

When deputies arrived and announced themselves, they allegedly heard Wesley Taylor loading what turned out to be a .300 Savage rifle. Taylor was ordered to drop the gun, which Crosier said he did.

Wesley Taylor also allegedly had a .22 caliber rifle and a .50 caliber muzzleloader at the house, Crosier said.

Wesley Taylor allegedly told deputies he was high on Wild Irish Rose, methamphetamines and "bath salts" when he went to the house. He also claimed to be a member of the military and working for the CIA, both of which Crosier said are not true.

Wesley Taylor escaped from the police cruiser after he was arrested, but was found hiding in a relative's closet a short time later, Crosier said.

It was the second time in a week deputies had arrested someone who was high on "bath salts," a synthetic drug thought to induce psychosis and which mimics the effects of cocaine. Sold legally as bath salts, insect repellents or fertilizers, the drug can increase blood pressure and heart rate and is thought to cause hallucinations, extreme paranoia and delusions in some people.

Deputies went to a home in Mink Shoals on March 14 and arrested a man who allegedly attacked his girlfriend after taking "bath salts." The state Legislature just banned sales of the synthetic drug, but the law has not yet taken effect.

Wesley Taylor was charged with wanton endangerment and escape. He was in the South Central Regional Jail this morning awaiting arraignment.

Reach Rusty Marks at rustyma...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1215.