Police: Asked Why He Plowed Through Yards, Man Answers, 'Because I'm Drunk"

Residents of two homes in the 19800 block of Maydell Court called the cops last week after they said a man had driven across their lawns, plowed over landscaping, crashed into their fences and then started a fight with them.

Around 11:10 p.m. on June 24, the 2011 Toyota Acura was "parked over the landscaping in between (the two) residences" when police got to the scene, according to the police report. "The landscaping pavers had been strewn across the front lawn and the grass was damaged in multiple areas."

The Acura's driver, Steven J. Pace, 53, of the 9000 block of Redcastle Drive in Tinley Park, was found leaning against the back of his car and bleeding from his face, according to the report. Before the cops got there, Pace began physically fighting with the homeowners when they asked him to remain on scene, according to the report.

The Acura’s airbag was deployed, the front fender was lying on the lawn about 15 feet in front of the vehicle, and both the fences had major damage to multiple sections with "one or more of the support posts knocked out of place," the report said.

"Pace had blood on his shirt and was spitting blood from his mouth," the report said. " … Pace was confused as to how his vehicle ended up striking the fences and getting stuck on (the) landscaping pavers.”

Pace had to lean against his car to keep his balance, police said.

"In my presence, the paramedics asked Pace, 'Why did you run into the lawn here?' and Pace responded, 'Because I'm drunk,'" the report said.

Pace's speech was slurred and his breath smelled like alcohol, police said. Pace was taken to St. James Hospital in Olympia Fields for treatment of minor injuries and went back to the police department the next day. He told police he didn't remember anything from the incident, according to the report.

He was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, leaving the roadway, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, and battery.