Oak Forest man charged with battery after landscaping dispute
May 13, 2011 10:56PM
Updated: September 24, 2012 6:25AM
A 21-year-old Oak Forest man was charged with battery Tuesday after punching his 51-year-old neighbor during a disagreement over landscaping, police said.
Michael D. Messer, of 5122 W. Greentree Road, punched his next-door neighbor in the mouth after the two men argued about tree branches left on Messer’s front lawn, police said.
Messer’s neighbor said he did his best to pick up all the branches he trimmed from his tree, police said. He said he would only have to rake the yard again when the tree’s flowers fell, police said.
The victim hit Messer as the argument continued, which led to the fight, police said.
Both men went into their homes, but Messer resumed the argument moments later. The victim said he would call police, prompting Messer to punch him, police said.
Bob Rakow
