Fight Near Dumpster Leads to Battery Charge

A 31-year-old Tinley Park man was charged with battery early Monday following a scuffle near a dumpster on 71st Court.

arrested Timothy J. Harper, of the 17200 block of South 71st Court in Tinley Park, around 3:45 a.m. They were in the area investigating a noise complaint when they came across a man who said he'd been battered by Harper.

The alleged victim told police that he was peeing by a fence in that area when he heard what he thought was glass breaking, according to the report. He went to see what the commotion was about and found Harper "near a dumpster, throwing a porcelain toilet on the ground," police said.

As the man approached the dumpster, Harper threw a "very slow punch which (the alleged victim) was able to grab," the report said. The alleged victim then leg-swept Harper, causing him to fall to the ground, the report said.

As the alleged victim pinned Harper, another man tackled the alleged victim and pushed him to the ground. This second man then held down the alleged victim by his neck while Harper "kicked and punched his face and head," according to the report.

"(The alleged victim) pretended to be unconscious and both males ran from the scene toward the west," the report said.

The alleged victim said he only wanted to sign complaints against Harper because he understood the second man may have thought he was the aggressor when he attacked him.

The alleged victim was taken to Advocate South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest, where he was given four stitches to close a wound above his right eye, police said.

Police knew Harper lived in the area and said he matched the description given by the alleged victim. When they went to Harper’s residence, a man matching the description of the second aggressor answered the door, the report said.

When they found Harper, he was wearing a "blood spattered white T-shirt" and had smeared blood on his white and black gym shoes, police said. They also wrote in the report that he appeared drunk and had bruises on his face and cuts on his arms.

"He could not articulate how he received his injuries or how he got blood on his clothing," the report said. "He did say that he kicked a guy's head and that, 'I f----- that guy up.'"

Harper was charged with battery and his bail was set at $1,000.

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