79-Year-Old Former Bull Rider Knocks Out Home Intruder High on Bath Salts

Dec. 4, 2012— -- A 79-year old former bull rider in League City, Texas, proved that age was only a number when he knocked out a home intruder who was apparently high on bath salts.

League City Police Department Sgt. Tamara Spencer told ABC News that Ervin Brittnacher "was just about as cool as he could be" after an agitated man came to his front door with a gun and tried to break into his home at 5:45 a.m. Monday morning.

Spencer said Brittnacher told her, "I heard a ruckus at the door, walked to the door, and saw the young man holding a gun. I used to own a nightclub, and I knew it was never a good idea to talk to people holding guns.'"

Spencer said Brittnacher "throat punched [the suspect] and karate chopped the side of his neck."

"The guy went down cold," said Spencer.

Spencer said that when police responded to the scene, they found 38-year-old Charles Smith's car in a ditch half a mile away from Brittnacher's home.

"He wrecked his truck, grabbed his rifle, and tried to break into the house," Spencer said. "He was able to break off part of the screen door."

Spencer said Smith, who has a history of using bath salts, was incoherent when found. He was booked and charged with burglary of a habitation with intent to commit assault.

Smith's bond was set at $40,000, and is currently being held in Galveston County Jail.

Mike Brittnacher said his father used to ride bulls for a living, and wasn't surprised to hear he could still knock someone out. He said his father, who lives alone on a 25-acre property, still works on tractors and bails hay.

"He's a pretty tough man," he said. "He'd do anything for anybody. You wouldn't want to mess with him."

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