Bored In Quarantine, Teens Tear Up Grass In Park: Police

OAK LAWN, IL — Police broke up a gathering of four teens who had caused several hundred dollars in damages to the grass in an Oak Lawn park, reports said.

Around 8 p.m. March 30, officers responded to complaints of a gathering at Columbus Manor Park, 9953 S. Moody Ave. When officers arrived at the park, a Hyundai Sonata was parked in the grass next to the basketball court. Police said four teens were trying to push the car off the grass.

The car was full of mud and a significant amount of grass was churned up, reports said. The 18-year-old driver told officers that the car belonged to his father.

Asked why they were driving on the grass, the teens said they were bored being cooped up in the house during the statewide stay-at-home order. All four were banned from the village's parks, reports said.

The 18-year-old driver was cited with criminal damage to property. He has a tentative adjudication hearing on April 21 at Oak Lawn Village Hall.