Crime & Safety

Tinley Park Eat & Beat Case Set For September Trial

The judge said she was frustrated by at least three prior trial dates going by the wayside.

By Joseph Hosey

A Mokena man charged with attacking a restaurant manager after he was upset by his supposedly steep bill may go on trial in September.

Cook County Judge Colleen Hyland set the Sept. 10 date for 43-year-old Donovan Campbell's trial during a Tuesday morning hearing at the Bridgeview courthouse. Hyland also scheduled a July 31 appearance for attorneys to argue pretrial issues, including whether the "prior bad acts" of the man Campbell allegedly attacked, Dimitri Mikroulis, will be allowed as evidence.

Mikroulis was working as the manager of the Tinley Park restaurant Outriggers when Campbell allegedly assaulted him in March 2011. Campbell was irate over the amount of his check and confronted Mirkoulis, police said. When Mikroulis asked Campbell to leave the restaurant, Campbell allegedly slapped his face and punched him in the chest.

Campbell then put Mikroulis in a choke-hold and took him to the floor, police said, but restaurant workers freed their boss and restrained Campbell until the cops showed up. Mikroulis reportedly suffered broken ribs and a collapsed lung.

Campbell was dining with his wife and 8-year-old son prior to the alleged attack, police said. He maintains he was defending himself from Mikroulis, according to attorney Dennis Dwyer.

During the hearing Tuesday, Judge Hyland said she was "frustrated" that the case has been set for trial at least three times. She forbade the attorneys from filing any more motions.

"I'm through with all pretrial issues," she said.

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