A tree falls in Pittsburgh, man with chain saw is charged

(CBS/AP) PITTSBURGH - A Pittsburgh man who blamed basement flooding at his home on a nearby tree took matters into his own hands, and cut down the tree.

Unfortunately for him, police say it wasn't his tree, and now 39-year-old David Harper is charged with criminal mischief and possessing an instrument of crime - his neighbor's chain saw.

Police tell WTAE-TV that they charged Harper on Thursday after he cut the tree that stood on a city sidewalk nearly in half. Public works crews were called to cut it down completely after 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.