MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Surveillance footage played in court Wednesday captured the moments police said a 19-year-old man assaulted his mother’s gynecologist over a week ago.
Ventura Del Castillo Perez appeared before a judge for a pretrial detention hearing, facing battery charges related to the incident.
During the hearing, the victim’s son showed photos of his father’s injuries to the jury, detailing the extent of the harm inflicted.
The attack occurred on Oct. 14 at Steven Silvers’ office at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach.
Carolina Perez, the doctor’s patient and the mother of the accused, testified that she was dissatisfied after a June visit during which Silvers prescribed her opioids. She expressed her concerns about narcotics, citing her sibling’s battle with drug addiction.
“I can’t have that,” she told the judge.
Perez stated she informed her son about the incident, but police said he went to Mount Sinai without her knowledge to confront Silvers.
Body-worn camera footage reveals how he explained the confrontation to investigators, detailing witness accounts of the altercation.
A witness reported hearing the assailant say, “You’re not a good doctor. You treat your patients poorly,” to which Silvers responded, “You’re just a kid.”
A detective with the Miami Beach Police Department described the alarming condition in which they found the doctor, stating, “He was unconscious, not breathing, on the ground.”
According to the report, Silvers, who was rendered unconscious during the attack, told police that he did not remember what occurred and didn’t even remember arriving at work that day. He said the last thing he recalled was someone speaking to him about his Yelp reviews.
A prosecutor asked the doctor last week whether he was afraid of Del Castillo Perez, to which he responded, “Absolutely.”
“Have you ever met the defendant before this date?” Glazer asked.
“No,” Silvers answered. “Evidently I cared for his mother about a month ago. I will tell you that 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 afterwards that she was very nervous. She saw this person walking up and down the hallways, up and down the hallways prior to me arriving, and in fact, when this all happened, she really didn’t even know who I was until she went into her office appointment at 9 a.m. and realized I was the doctor who was supposed to cure her.”
Silvers described his injuries to the judge last week, saying he suffered a concussion, a hematoma on the right side of his head, a swollen collarbone, a bruised temple, a bruised right eye, a brain contusion and two broken ribs.
Body camera footage obtained by Local 10 News showed the teenager explaining to investigators that he did not intend to harm Silvers and that his actions were motivated by anger over his mother’s treatment. However, witnesses testified that they saw the teen strike the doctor multiple times, leading to his serious injuries.
Perez Del Castillo’s attorney, during the hearing, argued that the young man did not intend for the situation to become violent.
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The defense emphasized that Perez Del Castillo went to the hospital to express concerns about his mother’s care, not to attack the doctor. The lawyer claimed that the teen acted out of emotion and that the physical altercation was not premeditated.
Despite the defense’s argument, the judge remained unconvinced. After watching the surveillance footage, the judge called the attack “brutal,” stating that the level of violence could not be overlooked, even if Perez Del Castillo’s motives were rooted in concern for his mother.
Judge Denies Bail, Keeps Teen in Custody
Ultimately, the judge granted the state’s motion to keep Perez Del Castillo in custody without bail, determining that the risk posed by the defendant outweighed the defense’s arguments for release.
However, the judge left the door open for the defense to file another motion for release at a later date, allowing the possibility of bond or house arrest if the defense can present additional evidence.
For now, Perez Del Castillo will remain behind bars as his case progresses. His legal team is expected to explore further options for his release while preparing for trial.