Helicopter, K-9s Called to Westchase After Suspicious Foursome Spotted

An off-duty Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputy suffered a bite and one man faces a long list of criminal charges following an early morning incident in Westchase May 28 that resulted in a helicopter and K-9 unit call out.

The incident began to unfold around 3:03 a.m. Tuesday when Deputy Kristopher Katzer, 33, was working off-duty in the Westchase area when he spotted four men “wearing dark clothing and backpacks” while looking into vehicles parked in the area.

Katzer, a 10-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, tried to approach the men in the area of New Parke and Belgrave roads. When he did, three of the four ran away, but Katzer was able to catch up with one, according to a sheriff’s office media release.

That man, David Aristizabal-Bastidas, 18, however, began to fight with Katzer.

Katzer was eventually able to take Aristizabal-Bastidas to the ground. The scuffle continued until additional deputies arrived.

“Aristizabal continued resisting and was finally secured by a total of five deputies,” the release said.

During the fight, Katzer was bit in his right forearm. He was later medically cleared at Florida Hospital Carrollwood.

Aristizabal-Bastidas was taken to Tampa General Hospital before being booked into the Hillsborough County Jail. He suffered scrapes and bruises during the struggle, the release said.

The sheriff’s office’s aviation and K-9 units also responded to the scene, but none of the other men were caught.

Aristizabal-Bastidas now faces loitering and prowling, resisting arrest with violence, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, burglary of an unoccupied conveyance and other charges. He was being held May 28 without bond in the Hillsborough County Jail, according to jail records.

Aristizabal-Bastidas, who has no known address, was also arrested May 4 on theft charges.

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