Man drove over 33 Mount Prospect lawns, police say

A 19-year-old Des Plaines man faces 18 counts of criminal damage to property after police said he drove his Dodge Grand Caravan over 33 lawns in Mount Prospect early this morning.

Police said officers first spotted Brian J. Essenberg at 2 a.m. as he drove over a side yard in the 1400 block of North Burning Bush Lane with his vehicle’s headlights and taillights off. Essenberg also had two passengers with him, according to the Mount Prospect Police Department.

After all three were brought into the police station, one of the passengers, Keith J. Huff, 19, of Mount Prospect, was charged with unlawful consumption of alcohol by a minor after registering blood-alcohol concentration of .032.

The other passenger was not charged in the incident.

Along with the 18 counts of criminal damage, Essenberg was charged with reckless driving and unlawful possession of cannabis.

When police checked out the area where the men were arrested, they found 33 damaged lawns in the 1800 block of East Boulder Drive, the 1800 block of East Apache Lane, the 1900 block of Sioux Lane, the 1900 block of East Hopi Lane, the 900 block of North Burning Bush Lane and the 1800 block of East Bittersweet Lane.

Police said the suspects confessed to driving over the lawns.

In all, 17 homeowners signed criminal complaints. An additional complaint was filed on behalf of Mount Prospect for 17 parkways that were damaged.

Essenberg and Huff were released after posting bail. Their next court date is Feb. 16 at the Rolling Meadows courthouse.