Pa. man arrested for cutting tree that floods home

[August 05, 2011]  PITTSBURGH (AP) -- A Pittsburgh man has been arrested after police say he cut down a city-owned tree, which the man claims contributes to basement flooding.

Thirty-nine-year-old David Harper is charged with criminal mischief and possessing an instrument of crime -- his neighbor's chain saw.

Police tell WTAE-TV (http://bit.ly/oDpl6T) that they charged Harper on Thursday after he cut the sidewalk tree nearly in half. Public works crews were called to cut the tree down after city officials determined it was unstable and could fall on someone.

Online court records don't list an attorney for Harper, and The Associated Press could not locate a listed home phone for him. Police say Harper told them he hated the tree because it buckled the sidewalk, causing rainwater to flow into his basement.

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Information from: WTAE-TV, http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/

[Associated Press]

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