As Luis Diaz-Polanco sits in the Volusia County Jail, WESH 2 uncovered reports highlighting some of his struggles with mental health before his family moved to Deltona.The 31-year-old lives with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. In 2023, documents show Lake Mary police Baker Acted him three times in six months. “How traumatic and terrifying for that deputy who is trying to do his job and respond, and also how tragic for that individual who is clearly living with a serious and persistent mental illness and not receiving the appropriate care,” said Sarah Summey, the CEO of Lakewood Center.Court documents reveal that in January 2023, Diaz-Polanco’s mom told officers he became agitated and violent because he refused to take his medicine for a week.She even told officers he normally doesn’t act this way when he’s on medication. In March, reports show his mom said he wasn’t taking his medication and was in some sort of crisis. Officers said Diaz-Polanco came to the front door and said, “I don’t want to live.” He also stated, “You have a gun. Shoot me.” Three months later, Diaz-Polanco’s mom said he wasn’t sleeping, heard voices and was delusional for days. In all of these cases, police took him to a hospital for treatment. Sarah Summery, the CEO of Lakewood Center, a nonprofit mental health residential program in Seminole County, says this case highlights the need for continued access to critical care.”People can become violent and dangerous without medication, but they can also live very high productive lives with the appropriate support and care,” Summey said. Harvard-trained Psychiatrist Dr. Jon Stevens, the medical director at Lakewood Center, agreed. “Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, sometimes called schizoaffective disorder, affect a small percentage of the population, but they’re amongst the most feared diagnoses. They’re oftentimes misunderstood, feared, but they’re very treatable,” Dr. Stevens said.”Schizophrenia is actually one of the most treatable illnesses we have in psychiatry, and what is not always understood now is getting treatment early. So, early detection, especially major mental illnesses like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, especially early psychosis, is really one of the key pillars that doesn’t happen.”Documents also highlighted two battery calls. One at his home and another while he was on the job. In August 2024, Seminole County deputies said Diaz-Polanco was a Lyft driver, taking a couple home to Heathrow after dinner.A 68-year-old passenger said he gave Diaz-Polanco the transponder to get into the neighborhood, but he says Diaz-Polanco became irate and said get out of his car.The man said Diaz-Polanco parked, got out, and opened the back door. Documents show he grabbed the other passenger, a 67-year-old woman, dragged her out of the back seat, and threw her to the ground.The woman had minor injuries. Both Summey and Stevens hope this horrific case shines a light on serious mental illnesses and reminds people it’s OK to get long-term treatment. “I think that that’s very important for all of us to remember in situations like this one,” Summey said.
VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. —
As Luis Diaz-Polanco sits in the Volusia County Jail, WESH 2 uncovered reports highlighting some of his struggles with mental health before his family moved to Deltona.
The 31-year-old lives with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
In 2023, documents show Lake Mary police Baker Acted him three times in six months.
“How traumatic and terrifying for that deputy who is trying to do his job and respond, and also how tragic for that individual who is clearly living with a serious and persistent mental illness and not receiving the appropriate care,” said Sarah Summey, the CEO of Lakewood Center.
Court documents reveal that in January 2023, Diaz-Polanco’s mom told officers he became agitated and violent because he refused to take his medicine for a week.
She even told officers he normally doesn’t act this way when he’s on medication.
In March, reports show his mom said he wasn’t taking his medication and was in some sort of crisis.
Officers said Diaz-Polanco came to the front door and said, “I don’t want to live.” He also stated, “You have a gun. Shoot me.”
Three months later, Diaz-Polanco’s mom said he wasn’t sleeping, heard voices and was delusional for days.
In all of these cases, police took him to a hospital for treatment.
Sarah Summery, the CEO of Lakewood Center, a nonprofit mental health residential program in Seminole County, says this case highlights the need for continued access to critical care.
“People can become violent and dangerous without medication, but they can also live very high productive lives with the appropriate support and care,” Summey said.
Harvard-trained Psychiatrist Dr. Jon Stevens, the medical director at Lakewood Center, agreed.
“Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, sometimes called schizoaffective disorder, affect a small percentage of the population, but they’re amongst the most feared diagnoses. They’re oftentimes misunderstood, feared, but they’re very treatable,” Dr. Stevens said.
“Schizophrenia is actually one of the most treatable illnesses we have in psychiatry, and what is not always understood now is getting treatment early. So, early detection, especially major mental illnesses like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, especially early psychosis, is really one of the key pillars that doesn’t happen.”
Documents also highlighted two battery calls. One at his home and another while he was on the job.
In August 2024, Seminole County deputies said Diaz-Polanco was a Lyft driver, taking a couple home to Heathrow after dinner.
A 68-year-old passenger said he gave Diaz-Polanco the transponder to get into the neighborhood, but he says Diaz-Polanco became irate and said get out of his car.
The man said Diaz-Polanco parked, got out, and opened the back door. Documents show he grabbed the other passenger, a 67-year-old woman, dragged her out of the back seat, and threw her to the ground.
The woman had minor injuries.
Both Summey and Stevens hope this horrific case shines a light on serious mental illnesses and reminds people it’s OK to get long-term treatment.
“I think that that’s very important for all of us to remember in situations like this one,” Summey said.