News >> Browse Articles >> Crime News

Injured Miami-Dade Officer Still in Critical Condition

MIAMI-DADE, FL – Smashed in the head with a cinderblock on Friday, Miami-Dade detective Carlos Castillo has been in and out of a coma and remains in critical condition in the intensive care unit, doctors said Wednesday.

They called his prognosis ``guarded’’ as they ticked off a list of more than a dozen injuries the detective suffered after he was attacked and run over with his own car.

“We’re hopeful, but we realize with this level of injury, this level of blood loss the outcome is not guaranteed yet,‘’ said Dr. Mark McKenney, medical director of Ryder Trauma Center, where the detective was rushed Friday. ``We’re going to continue to work hard to see that he survives.’’

A big risk in the coming days is an infection from the vast number of injuries and blood loss.

He suffered such extensive trauma in the attack that doctors listed 14 different injuries to various parts of his body.

The three areas that most concerns doctors are injuries to his brain, liver and lungs. The damage to his lungs was so severe that Castillo is on a ventilator.

“Eighty percent of patients with this level of injury would die,‘’ McKenney said. ``He survived the initial part. He survived the shock. We’re hopeful, but the situation is still guarded. It’s really a campaign to see if we can get all his systems working and better before a bad infection takes place.’’

He has been able to mouth some words, but can’t clearly follow commands, doctors said.

The brain injury is on the right side of his brain, said Dr. Ross Bullock, Director of Neurotrauma at Jackson Memorial Hospital.

“He could make a good recovery from that, but it’s difficult to assess the brain injury because it’s necessary to keep him sedated,’’ Bullock said.

Police say Castillo was working undercover on Friday when he was attacked after pulling over Michael Paul Robertson, 33, and his girlfriend, Monica Rene Banks, 25.

Robertson, who was wanted on a warrant, fled after the stop. Castillo handcuffed Banks as officers fanned out to search for Robertson.

Investigators say Robertson threw a cinderblock from the second story of a nearby building, before running downstairs, kicking Castillo and stealing his car. They say he then ran over Castillo’s battered body.

Robertson has been charged with attempted first-degree murder and other related offenses. Banks is charged with accessory after the fact to attempted first-degree murder.