Fla. man fends off home invader with glass cleaner

LAUDERDALE LAKES, Fla. (WHDH) -- A home invasion victim turned the tables on an armed man, fighting back with an everyday household item.

Sixty-six-year-old Jacques Baillargeon didn't sit back when a robber stormed into his apartment. "I don't like to be afraid, I never like to be afraid in my life," said Baillargeon.

On Tuesday, Baillargeon said a man came into his home carrying a gun and a crowbar. At the time, Baillargeon was relaxing with his wife. "And I said, 'No way this guy is going to touch my wife,'" he said.

Before the robber could grab any cash or jewelry from the apartment, Baillargeon grabbed the first weapon he saw, which was a bottle of glass cleaner. "I said, 'No way, I will try not to panic and I will try to knock him down,'" said Baillargeon.

Baillargeon sprayed the robber's face with the blue liquid. The robber then dropped his crowbar and fled the scene. Baillargeon immediately called 911.

Dispatcher: "You sprayed him with window cleaner?"

Baillargeon: "Yes."

Moments later, 29-year-old Nathanel Smith called 911 and clamed his home was broken into.

Dispatcher: "Did you see anyone? Can you tell me what they look like?"

Smith: "No, ma'am. He had on all black with a bandanna over his mouth."

Smith told police a crowbar was taken during the alleged robbery. Police questioned him and determined it was a cover-up.

Detectives said Smith was the one who tried to rob Baillargeon. Smith faked having a crowbar stolen to explain how his print was on the crowbar he left behind.

Smith appeared before a judge Wednesday and is being held without bond.

Police said Smith confessed he robbed Baillargeon and also confessed to robbing another couple a few days earlier.