COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Opening statements are expected as soon as Tuesday in the case of a former Florence City Council member and state mental hospital clinician accused of spiking a woman's drink with a tranquilizer.

Fifty-seven-year-old Robert Psaty is charged with assault by drugging a victim and attempting to have someone induce a controlled substance by fraudulent means. Jury selection began Monday.

Authorities say Psaty was on a date at a Ruby Tuesday restaurant on Jan. 3, 2008, when a waiter saw him drop a pill into his date's drink when she left the table.

“I about dropped the food I was holding I was so blown away,” said Colt Haugen a waiter at the Ruby Tuesday restaurant where the incident allegedly occurred.

“I was just thinking, ‘I can’t believe I just saw this,’” Haugen told 7NEWS.

Haugen said the couple appeared to be on a date happened to notice the woman get up from the table to visit the salad bar.

“As she turned her back, I watched him put a pill in her drink and mash it up with a straw and stir it in,” Haugen said.

Haugen said he immediately notified the restaurant manager and took action.

“Initially, I tried to spill the drink on the table,” said Haugen.

When that didn’t work, Haugen returned to the table with another margarita and switched out the drink.

“I looked at her and smiled and as I turned away. I made eye contact with the gentleman and he shot me the most horrific look you’ve ever seen,” Haugen said.

Test results showed the drug to be the tranquilizer diazepam, according to Arms. Diazepam is the generic version of Valium.

Psaty was placed on paid administrative leave from his job at the state hospital in February 2008. He has pleaded not guilty and remains free on $3,000 bail.