Recently released video footage revealed a tense moment during a routine investigation that could have ended tragically. In this incident, a body camera prevented a bullet from striking a Florida police officer in the chest.
This event took place on March 1, when Deputy Jose Rivera and a trainee responded to a call regarding an assault in Volusia County. Upon arriving, the officers encountered a man named Luis Diaz Polanco.
As shown in the body camera footage, Polanco initially went back into his home, presumably to calm down, only to return wielding a handgun and began firing at the officers.
Deputy Rivera sustained injuries to his leg and shoulder as a bullet ricocheted off his body camera, which was attached to his chest.
In the aftermath of the shootout, deputies were seen quickly rushing Rivera to safety and applying a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. He was then transported to a hospital and is expected to recover fully.
Video evidence also captured Polanco being taken into custody, where he was later charged with attempted murder. During his arrest, he reportedly mentioned having a “bad day” prior to the shooting and admitted to feeling overwhelmed, according to Sheriff Mike Chitwood.
In a rather chilling remark, Polanco allegedly said he intended to shoot the deputies, expressing that had he not run out of ammunition, he would have shot them all.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office later shared a post on social media showcasing the damaged body camera that had saved Deputy Rivera’s life, accompanied by a caption expressing gratitude for the officers’ swift actions.
Chitwood commended the deputies’ bravery and professionalism in dealing with the situation. Meanwhile, the Sheriff’s Office has yet to respond to requests for further comments.
