State Not Set For Tinley Eat & Beat Trial, Mokena Man Ready

By Joseph Hosey

A Mokena man charged with attacking a restaurant manager after he was upset by his supposedly steep bill was set to stand trial Tuesday but prosecutors weren't ready for him.

Donovan Campbell, 43, appeared before Cook County Judge Colleen Hyland with his attorneys but prosecutor Susan Fleming said "the state is answering not ready."

Campbell's lawyers, Michael Chomiak and Dennis Dwyer, demanded a trial but Judge Hyland set the case to continue Nov. 12.

Campbell was arrested after allegedly attacking restaurant manager Dimitri Mikroulis in March 2011. Mikroulis was working at the Tinley Park restaurant Outriggers when he and Campbell allegedly got into a dispute.

Campbell was irate over the amount of his check and confronted Mikroulis, 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 attack, police said. He maintains he was defending himself from Mikroulis, according to attorney Dennis Dwyer.

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