Bullet strikes Florida deputy’s bodycam when man opens fire; sheriff says it likely saved his life
By Dacia Johnson & Madilyn Destefano
Click here for updates on this story
VOLUSIA, Florida (WESH) — The body-worn camera on a Volusia County deputy is credited with deflecting a bullet meant for his chest, Sheriff Mike Chitwood said at a news conference this week.
Chitwood said the shooting happened on Candler Drive in Deltona on Monday night while the deputy was investigating a battery call. He was shot in the leg and shoulder.
The bullet that hit the deputy’s shoulder is believed to have ricocheted off the body-worn camera.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen a body camera take a hit,” Chitwood said.
Up until six months ago, deputies at the Volusia Sheriff’s Office wore their body cameras in a different place. The switch was recent, Chitwood said.
The man accused of shooting the deputy will remain behind bars on no bond after appearing before a judge on Tuesday.
Luis Diaz Polanco could be heard saying, “I need to talk to my mom,” to his public defender as he left the hearing.
While being interrogated, Polanco said he was off his prescribed schizophrenia medication.
The incident began when a caller reported that the suspect, Polanco, had damaged her vehicle by striking the hood.
Deputies then attempted to contact Polanco at a residence.
When they approached the front door, Polanco immediately pointed a handgun at the deputies and fired multiple rounds before going back inside, according to the arrest affidavit.
VSO released body camera footage from the shooting.
“One thing they did not know or anticipate was a vandalism call knocking on the door, which they have the legal right to do, would end up in a barrage of gunfire…” Chitwood said.
The deputy who was shot was identified as Jose Rivera.
“The trail of shells from the front door to where you see Deputy Rivera leaning on the car would indicate he fired at him and followed him down the driveway,” Chitwood said.
In body camera footage from other deputies, you see a tourniquet being applied to Rivera. He’s rushed into a patrol car after being hit in the shoulder and the leg and taken to the hospital
While this was happening, deputies back at the home were taking Polanco into custody. Once in custody, the sheriff says Polanco talked.
“When the deputies came up to the house, he had every intention to shoot them,” Sheriff Chitwood said of Polanco’s statement. “To shoot them in their vest and if I didn’t run out of ammunition, I would have killed them all.”
Rivera survived and was released from the hospital on Wednesday.
When detectives interrogated Polanco, he explained he had been off his prescribed schizophrenia medication for about a month after missing an appointment.
Detectives said he acknowledged that shooting at the deputies was wrong.
Polanco said he deliberately aimed his firearm at the deputies’ chests because he believed their ballistic vests would protect them, according to the arrest affidavit.
He is now facing two counts of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer with a firearm.
Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.