Beware .. loonies about..

Lawrence Goldstein, 40, 1020 St. Claude Ave., New Orleans, was booked Monday with attempted rape, false imprisonment and possession of nitrous oxide, which is classified a dangerous substance, police said.

Sometimes known as laughing gas, the chemical was used by Goldstein to try and lower the woman's defenses, authorities said.

Goldstein called the 24-year-old Covington resident early Monday morning and told her that he had too many guests at his home and asked if he could sleep at her place, Covington police spokesman Lt. Jack West said.

The woman, who was house-sitting and had a 6-month-old baby with her, told him he could come over but only to sleep, West said.

Goldstein arrived at the apartment in a purple top hat, a large purple cape and a purple satin shirt, West said. His upper body also was covered in pink body paint and glitter, West said.

The woman told police that Goldstein forced her to inhale nitrous oxide and smoke marijuana with him, West said. He then became aggressive and attacked her, ripping off some of her clothes, West said.

The woman fought him off and ran outside about 3:30 a.m., where she was able to call police on a cell phone, West said. The woman left the baby inside, but the infant was unharmed, West said.

When officers arrived, they found Goldstein in the house clad only in trousers and with a bag full of whips, chains, a sex toy and handcuffs, West said. The officers also discovered a canister that the woman told them contained nitrous oxide. She told police they had smoked all of Goldstein's marijuana, West said.

While searching the man's car, they discovered the trunk was packed with hay, two hula hoops and another whip, West said.

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