Belleview Man’s Late-Night Standoff With Deputies Ends in Arrest
A Belleview man learned the hard way that arguing with law enforcement—while blinding them with a headlamp—rarely ends well.
Deputies responded to a 911 hang-up Tuesday night at a home on SE 126th Place, where they found David Westman standing in the yard, illuminated like a lighthouse. Despite repeated requests to turn off the headlamp that was making it impossible for deputies to see, Westman only tilted it slightly, setting the tone for what was to come.
Westman, who claimed the call was a pocket dial during an argument between others on the property, quickly became uncooperative when deputies insisted on checking on a woman inside a trailer. He refused to let them enter, declared he had access to a shotgun, and then escalated the situation by telling deputies to, in less-than-polite terms, leave his property.
When deputies attempted to detain him, Westman allegedly struck one in the arm, forcefully grabbed the deputy’s wrist, and made a grab for equipment on the deputy’s duty belt, managing to rip away a department-issued cellphone. In the struggle, he also pinned the deputy’s pinky finger, causing pain and swelling.
After a chaotic wrestling match with three deputies, Westman was finally subdued when one pulled out a Taser and gave him a choice: comply or get zapped. He quickly decided cooperation was the better option.
Once in handcuffs, Westman prolonged the process further by refusing to provide his middle name, initially answering only with “W,” and telling deputies to “just look up” his date of birth. He was eventually transported to the Marion County Jail, facing charges of battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting with violence, and obstruction without violence.
Despite all the commotion, the woman in the trailer was unharmed and declined assistance.
