Man Arrested After Attempting to Gouge Officers' Eyes Out

LUBBOCK, TX — A man was arrested after allegedly threatening to kill his mother and attempting to gouge two officers' eyes who responded to a domestic disturbance call on Saturday.

According to court documents, officers were dispatched to the 4800 block of Avenue D on May 24 after receiving reports that Jacob Rios, 29, who has schizophrenia, had become aggressive and made death threats toward his mother.

Police say the reporting party also warned that he had threatened to kill any officers who came to the home and that a handgun was inside the residence.

When officers arrived, Rios answered the door and was immediately aggressive, yelling and refusing to follow commands. Officers noted that he was highly agitated, and his mother, who was standing behind him in the living room, appeared emotional and afraid.

Officers attempted to speak with Rios’ mother, and she confirmed that Rios threatened her and that she feared for her safety. Eventually, Rios became angrier after realizing officers were talking to his mother through him. When Rios turned to go back inside the home, officers attempted to detain him to prevent any potential harm. He instantly resisted, tensed up, and grabbed at an officer’s face near the eye.

Court documents state Rios continued to struggle as officers brought him to the ground and handcuffed him. During the arrest, he also grabbed a second officer’s face, spat at him, and kicked at officers even after being held to the ground, and was later put into a patrol vehicle. Officers later reported minor injuries from the fight.

Once in custody, Rios’s mother told police Rios had schizophrenia and became increasingly aggressive in recent weeks. She also stated that he had previously assaulted her and feared he could seriously harm or kill her.

While being transported to the Lubbock County Detention Center, Rios reportedly continued making violent threats. Officers say he stated that “he was going to kill the police” and was “going to gouge out their eyes out,” claiming they “did not deserve their eyes.”

Based on those statements and his earlier actions at the residence, police believe he was attempting to gouge their eyes out during the arrest.

Jacob Rios was booked and remains at LCDC under two charges of Assaulting a Public Servant, Harassment of a Public Servant, Terroristic Threat Against a Peace Officer, Resisting Arrest, and Terroristic Threat of Family.

His total bond is set at $20,500.