A new video has emerged capturing a nerve-wracking incident where a Florida police officer’s body camera saved him from a potentially fatal bullet during a routine probe last month.
This dramatic episode took place when Deputy Jose Rivera, accompanied by a deputy trainee, was dispatched to investigate an assault and battery report at a residence in Volusia County on March 1, as reported by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
Upon their arrival, the officers encountered the suspect, Luis Diaz Polanco, according to police statements.
The footage from the body camera reveals Luis Diaz Polanco stepping out of his home and allegedly opening fire on the officers, hitting Deputy Jose Rivera during the confrontation in Volusia County, Florida, on March 1, 2026. (Volusia County Sheriff’s Office)
While attempting to communicate with Polanco, he allegedly reentered the house and emerged with a handgun, proceeding to fire at the deputies, as noted by authorities.
Rivera was hit in the leg and shoulder after a bullet deflected off his chest-mounted body-worn camera, according to the department.
Video shows the shootout and the aftermath, including fellow deputies pulling a bloodied Rivera to safety and applying tourniquets.
Police place a tourniquet on Deputy Jose Rivera after he was shot several times in Volusia County, Fla., March 1, 2026. (Volusia County Sheriff’s Office)
Rivera, a father of three, was then placed into the back of a police car and transported to a hospital, where he was expected to make a full recovery.
Additional video shows Polanco on the ground with his hands behind his back as police take him into custody.
He was later charged with attempted murder, according to police.
Deputy Jose Rivera’s body camera shielded him from being shot in the chest while responding to a call regarding an assault in Volusia County, Fla., March 1, 2026. (Volusia County Sheriff’s Office)
While in custody, Polanco allegedly told police he had a “horrible day” before the shooting and was previously involved in a confrontation with an unidentified woman, Sheriff Mike Chitwood said in a news conference.
“When the deputies came up to the house, [Polanco] had every intention to shoot them,” Chitwood said, adding a direct quote from the suspect, “‘If I didn’t run out of ammunition, I would have killed them all.’”
Polanco allegedly told officers he was experiencing a mental health crisis at the time of the alleged incident.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office shared a photo on social media showing the damaged body camera that stopped the bullet from hitting Rivera in the chest, with the caption, “Deputy Rivera’s body cam took a bullet headed for his chest. His fellow deputies pulled him to safety. Thank God for that.”
“There’s a lot of scumbags out there that have a lot of things to say,” Chitwood said. “What they did, what those deputies did, was absolutely outstanding. It was bravery. There was restraint involved. They did everything you could ever ask a law enforcement professional to do.”
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
