Advertisement

Home-invasion suspect calls alleged victim to apologize before going to jail

Cleveland Smith told Chris Bates that the other two suspects threatened to kill him if he didn't go through with the home-invasion

By Evan Bleier
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter

BOYNTON BEACH , Fla., May 30 (UPI) -- A Florida home-invasion suspect called his alleged victim to apologize before he was taken to jail.

Boynton Beach Police believe that Cleveland Smith and two other men stormed into the home of Chris Bates and pistol-whipped him after a struggle.

Advertisement

Smith has been taken into custody and charged with armed home invasion and grand theft, but the other two suspects remain at large.

After the attack, Bates had to have 11 staples put into his head. He claims that Smith called him up to apologize and say that he was forced into carrying out the invasion.

"He was like ... oh just listen listen, listen, listen, bro I didn't mean to do that, the guys were going to kill me, they had a gun to my back," Bates told WPBF.

Bates knew Smith as "Little D" and he was able to pick him out of a photo lineup, WPTV reported.

"I don't take the apology because my fiancé could've lost his life," said Bates fiancée, Rutta Aliensy. "No, I will never forget May 15th."

Advertisement

Latest Headlines