Florida police say mental patient gouged out eyes of roommate after argument about a towel: 'There was a lot of blood'

A patient at a Florida psychiatric hospital gouged out both eyes of his roommate during a fight, according to a police news release.

The Pembroke Pines Police Department said 34-year-old Reinaldo Bermeosolo "pulled both of the victim's eyes out of his eye-sockets" at the South Florida State Hospital on Friday.

The release said that the altercation began as a verbal argument just before 4 p.m. between the two roommates and escalated into a physical fight. Bermeosolo allegedly punched the victim in the face, threw him to the ground, and then dragged the victim across the floor before ripping out his eyes.

The fight lasted for about seven minutes and ended only after another patient took notice and alerted the hospital staff. They alerted Pembroke Pines police about the incident about an hour later.

Police said Bermeosolo was acting nonchalantly when they got to the scene.

The victim was rushed to a local hospital to be treated for his grievous injuries, but he lost his vision after neither of his eyes were able to be reattached. He is being heavily sedated after the attack.

"The victim suffered severe injuries to his face and as a result of these injuries, he's now permanently blind," said Pembroke Pines Police Captain Christian Rogers.

Pembroke Pines police arrested Bermeosolo and charged him with aggravated battery. They said that the argument originated over a disagreement about a towel on the door.

"There was a lot of blood at the scene," Rogers added.

Both patients had reportedly been court ordered to be at the hospital.

The alleged attacker faced a judge on Monday, and his public defender waived his appearance after saying in court that Bermeosolo has a severe mental impairment. The judge ordered that Bermeosolo be held without bond.

The news release said more information will be available about the case later as police continue their investigation.

Here's a local news report about the incident:

Police: Patients’ eyes gouged out at Pembroke Pines psychiatric hospitalwww.youtube.com

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