A 19-year-old Miami Beach man was arrested following an altercation with a doctor at Mount Sinai Hospital, where the victim serves as his mother’s physician, according to police.
He appeared before a judge, Tuesday.
The victim, 69-year-old Dr. Steven Silvers, also spoke during the court hearing and told his account of what happened.
“I was going to my office and, at 8:15 in the morning, I briefly had an interaction with this gentleman and then I turned to walk away and he jumped me from the back and beat me, and there’s clear video at Mount Sinai Hospital that shows this,” he said. “He was waiting in the hallway pacing, waiting for me and I know this because I had an international patient who was waiting in the area of the lobby by the elevators and she told my staff afterward, that she was very nervous as she saw this person walking up and down the hallways, up and down the hallways prior to me arriving.”
Silvers also detailed the injuries he received.
“Multiple facial fractures, a swollen right eye, a small brain contusion, I have clavicular fractures of which it is undetermined if I will need surgery or not, and I have two broken ribs,” he said.
The judge denied Castillo bond and ordered an injunction.
“I’m entering a stay away order from Dr. Steven Silvers, the alleged victim,” the judge said. “Count one is no bond.”
According to the arrest report, Del Castillo explained to officers that he “was upset about what Dr. Silvers had prescribed his mother,” and allegedly confronted him about negative Yelp reviews. The confrontation escalated when Silvers allegedly attempted to prevent Del Castillo from leaving the hospital, reportedly placing his foot in the elevator door.
Del Castillo claimed he acted in self-defense, and he picked up Silvers and body-slammed him, according to the arrest report. Responding Miami Beach Police Department officers arrived just outside Silvers’ office to find the suspect “visibly crying and struggling to catch his breath.”
During a review of surveillance video at the hospital, police said Castillo “is then seen bear hugging the victim and slamming him on the ground,” and “the victim’s head is seen hitting the ground and the victim is then seen not moving in a prone position for over three minutes.” Detectives allege Castillo arrived at the hospital for the express purpose of assaulting Silvers.
The report states that hospital staff found Silvers unconscious on the floor when first responders arrived. He suffered a concussion, a hematoma and visible bruising, according to medical staff.
“Are you afraid of the defendant?” the judge asked.
“Absolutely,” Silvers said.
Witnesses reported seeing the two engage in a discussion about Silvers’ practices, but no threats were overheard. Security footage from the hospital confirmed the altercation, showing Del Castillo pushing Silvers before slamming him to the ground.
Del Castillo faces charges of aggravated battery and battery on an emergency medical care provider. He was transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
Silvers was transported for medical assistance and reported being unaware of the details surrounding the incident. He has since been released from the hospital.
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Source: wsvn
