2 Cited In Neighbor Dispute On Mokena Block

MOKENA, IL -- Two Mokena residents were cited with disorderly conduct after a neighbor dispute on a village street where all parties involve live last month. A police report indicates citations were given to Colleen R. Grabenhofer and Richard L. Grabenhofer, both of the 19300 block of Waterford Lane.

The police narrative in the report indicates a man who lives on the block and one who has been involved in an "ongoing dispute" with the Grabenhofers was walking his dog on Sept. 21 and said "Hi" to Richard Grabenhofer when he was on the sidewalk in front of his residence.

Grabenhofer responded with "threats and obscenities," according to the alleged victim and two witnesses who also live on the block according to police. Colleen Grabenhofer then allegedly became involved in the yelling of the threats and allegedly uttered the phrase "go back to where you (expletive) came from."

The victim listed in the report is Michael Menias, who said his family's dispute with the Grabenhofers has led to the decision to move his family out of Mokena.

"We are going to move for the safety of my family," he told Patch.

Menias is no stranger to run-ins with law enforcement, having previously been charged on allegations he held a customer at his Frankfort Square business at gunpoint in 2011 and still faces open charges of fraud and tax evasion in connection to his previous ownership of Joe's Tobacco.

"My history has nothing to do with this (the dispute with the Grabenhofers)," he said.

Previous reports of the dispute between the two families include an accusation that the Grabenhofers spread false rumors of the Menias' operating a drug dealing operation at their home on the block. Menias sued the Grabenhofers in 2016 on the allegation that they were spreading the false rumors.

When initially met by police in the recent incident, the Grabenhofers said that they were about to file a complaint against Menias.

Patch file photo