He got to the root of the problem
Nothing is so lovely as a tree for some people, but for one Pittsburgh man, the tree that grew in front of his home and supposedly directed rainwater into his basement was a menace. So, apparently, 39-year-old David Harper took matters — and his neighbor’s chainsaw — into his own hands, according to the Associated Press (AP).
Now Harper has been charged with criminal mischief and possessing an instrument of crime — the chainsaw — after he allegedly cut the offending city-owned tree nearly in half in early August. After the damage was done, public works crews were called to cut the tree down after city officials determined it was unstable and could fall on someone. Police say Harper told them he hated the tree because it buckled the sidewalk, causing rain water to flow into his basement, according to AP.
