Miami Beach Officer Stabbed Over Weekend Remains In Jackson Memorial's ICU
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - A Miami Beach police officer is recovering after being stabbed over the weekend by a man who was then shot to death by police.
Officer Ricardo Castillo remains in the Intensive Care Unit, according to Miami Beach Police. Castillo has been with the department for three years. Prior to joining the agency, he was with the Florida Highway Patrol for nearly four years.
Police say Castillo has received Exceptional Service Awards and Letters of Commendation and Appreciation. He was Officer of the Month for his role in capturing two suspects wanted for high-end watch thefts.
The stabbing and shooting happened Saturday night along Ocean Drive around 10th Street.
WATCH: MAN BRANDISHED KNIFE AT SECURITY PERSONAL AT MANGO'S CAFE
Police were contacted by security personnel at Mango's Café at 9th Street and Ocean Drive about a man threatening their staff with a knife. Surveillance video from the restaurant shows the man brandishing a large knife to security personnel.
David Wallack, the owner of Mango's Tropical Cafe, told CBS4's Peter D'Oench "I believe this was handled in a very gentle and proper way by my security. He talked it down with no violence. This was a person with obvious mental disabilities. He was wielding a very large butcher's knife. He was wielding a very dangerous butcher's knife. He was waving it around in public and threatening their security with it. The police also took the proper action for the safety of everybody. As far as we know this was a seemingly homeless person who showed up in the area not long ago. This was not someone we regularly see on the street."
Castillo located the man, later identified as 49-year-old Ryan Simms, and "made contact" with him, according to police. It was then that Simms stabbed him.
Cell phone video shows tense moments before a Saturday night officer-involved shooting.
Several officers are seen confronting Simms with their guns drawn. Police then used a taser him and he fell to the ground. When officers rushed at him, multiple gunshots can be heard. There was a break and then another round of gunshots.
Both Castillo and Simms were taken to the Jackson Memorial's Ryder Trauma Center where Simms died.
"Our officer thankfully is stable and expected to be okay," officer Ernesto Rodriguez said.
Simms does not appear to have a local arrest record but did have an out-of-state arrest.
His step Anne Marie-Malcolm posted on Facebook "Praying to understand how this could happen to you! Anyone who knows Ryan Simms is aware that he was a gentle giant with a soothing soul. For those two officers to keep shooting while he was on the ground your action is deemed excessive. Just a horrible video to watch. To my big brother, you will be missed."
The FDLE is investigating the police-involved shooting which is standard procedure in such cases.
