A Friday bond hearing for a Schererville man in custody for allegedly robbing a Lowell fast-food restaurant was delayed until Monday because new charges are expected to be filed against him.
Lake Superior Court Magistrate Natalie Bokota also granted a gag order in the proceedings against Dionysios Doukas per his attorney’s request, as well as a no-contact order toward any victims.
The state was asking the court to raise Doukas’ bond and take custody of his passport in the Friday hearing, but new charges that will be filed by the towns of St. John and Highland “rendered the motions moot,” Lake County Deputy Prosecutor Michael Toth said. Doukas’ attorney Ralph Staples Jr. said he has Doukas’ passport in his possession.
Toth asked whether Doukas has a passport from a different country that would also need to be turned over. Staples said he didn’t know but would find out and hold on to it as well until the court renders a decision.
Staples also asked the court to order a re-evaluation of eye injuries Doukas had after a “dust-up” while in custody, to which Bokota agreed.
Doukas, 33, surrendered last month to police after reportedly robbing a Subway restaurant and leading police on a chase that reached speeds of 95 miles per hour. He was charged with attempted robbery, robbery and resisting law enforcement. His bail was previously set at $80,000, Lake County court records show.
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Last month, police were dispatched to a report of an armed robbery at a Lowell Subway, but the suspect fled by the time police arrived. Employees told officers the suspect was wearing a dark hoodie pulled over a hat with dark pants and a cloth covering his face so only his eyes were visible.
One employee told police she was about to lock the front door of the store when a man walked inside, according to court records. She told the man the store was closed, “and in response he pointed an object wrapped in a plastic bag at her,” which she thought was a weapon, police said.
The suspect took money from the restaurant’s register and vault as well as $104.17 from a change machine and the employee’s wallet, according to police.
A Crown Point officer near Interstate 65 heard the dispatch about the Lowell robbery. The officer then saw a GMC Terrain driving north on I-65 at about 95 miles per hour with its lights off; Lake County sheriff’s and Merrillville police joined the Crown Point officer in the chase after the GMC swerved across four lanes of traffic to enter the U.S. 30 off ramp, a report said.
The GMC stopped near one of the Southlake Mall entrances, and the suspect started to open his door, giving officers a “good look” at the man before he fled east on U.S. 30 toward Valparaiso, hitting a vehicle, police said.
Lake County police ran the plate and found it was registered to Paragon Restaurant in Hobart, court records state. Police discovered the vehicle was driven by Doukas, grandson of the restaurant’s owner, Emiliano Perez, Lake County Sheriff’s Department spokesman, said.
Police called Doukas, and he agreed to meet the officers at his condominium in Schererville, court documents said. He denied committing any robberies or being the driver of the GMC, telling police he left the vehicle in a Denny’s parking lot in Portage and must have lost the key Friday evening before going on a “three-day drinking binge over the weekend” with a stripper in Illinois, court records state.
“(Doukas) stated whoever found the key must have stolen the vehicle,” according to an affidavit.
Police were able to find the damaged GMC at an apartment complex in Chesterton through OnStar.
Police said Doukas matched a description from recent robberies across Lake and Porter counties.
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.