Police: Man impaled his leg trying to break into neighbor’s home

A South Chicago man impaled his leg on a fence while trying to break into his neighbor’s home early Tuesday, then lied and said he was the victim of a home invasion, according to police.

The 55-year-old tried to break into a neighbor’s home in the 2900 block of East 80th Street about 3:30 a.m., according to Chicago Police.

A child screamed and the man fell off an outdoor landing, impaling his leg on a fence, police said.

He walked to the bus stop at 79th and Exchange, where someone called 911, police said. He was taken by paramedics to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where his condition was stabilized.

An investigation revealed the man’s initial story, that three males broke into his home and stabbed him in the thigh after robbing him, was not correct, police said.

The man was released without being charged pending further investigation by Area South detectives, police said Wednesday afternoon.