Pilot Flies Over Reagan Bel-Air Home, Detained

A pilot who said he unwittingly flew his light plane into restricted airspace over President Reagan’s new home in Bel-Air Estates charged Thursday that he was roughed up and “tortured” by an Orange County sheriff’s official while being held for questioning.

The Sheriff’s Department confirmed that its officials detained the pilot, identified as Doug Davis, at the request of federal authorities after he landed his Cessna Skylane 182 at John Wayne Airport about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.

A Sheriff’s spokesman, however, denied that Davis, 43, of Rubidoux, was mistreated and said the pilot failed to cooperate with officers.

U.S. Secret Service officials in Los Angeles confirmed Thursday that the Riverside County man was detained for questioning, but said no charges have been filed against him after agents determined that Davis “inadvertently flew into the restricted space.”

However, a Federal Aviation Administration official in Los Angeles said the incident was still under investigation.

Federal officials ordered Davis to land at the Orange County airport on Wednesday afternoon after flying over the estate in the 600 block of St. Cloud Road.

Davis said he was flying a San Bernardino photographer who was taking photos for aerial maps of the western Los Angeles area, including Bel-Air. The pilot said he has received no notice--known officially as NOTAMS (Notice to Airmen)--of the newly restricted air space over the Reagan home.

When he landed, Davis said, he was held at the airport by Sheriff’s Department officials. Davis said that a deputy handcuffed him for no apparent reason “and pushed my arms up behind my back until it was so painful I was screaming.”

The pilot said he received emergency treatment at College Hospital Costa Mesa for torn muscles in his right shoulder.

“I don’t know why the deputy held my arms up that way, unless it was just to torture me,” Davis said.

Sheriff’s officials denied any mistreatment of Davis. Lt. Richard Olson said the Secret Service had called the Sheriff’s Department to request that deputies detain the pilot and passenger at the airport.

“We weren’t given details, but just asked to detain the individuals,” the lieutenant said.

Davis and his passenger were met by a deputy and two airport special officers, Olson said. The deputy tried to search Davis for concealed weapons before driving him to the main airport terminal, a routine procedure, Olson said.

Olson said Davis was uncooperative and the deputy, whose name was not released, “had to put a wristlock on him, which is normal procedure.”

But Davis, who has been a pilot for about 20 years, said he did not make any derogatory comments, or try to resist the deputy’s orders.

The deputy treated him roughly after “I asked him two questions: ‘Am I under arrest?’ and ‘Who are you?’ ,” Davis said Thursday.

He said the officer told him he was not under arrest and identified himself as a deputy sheriff.

“After that, the deputy made me bend over the back of his car, and he told me to spread my legs apart, and he kicked my legs saying, ‘Farther! Farther!’ But I couldn’t spread my legs any wider,” Davis said.

The pilot said his arms were then handcuffed behind his back, and the deputy pushed his arms upward “until I was crying and screaming.”

Davis said the photographer, Allen Cummings, “wanted to come help me, but the other deputies wouldn’t let him.”

Four Secret Service agents arrived after he was handcuffed, Davis said.

“The . . . agents were very cordial,” the pilot said. After hearing his explanation, Davis said, they told him he would not be charged.

”. . . I’m having to wear a sling because of the pain in my right shoulder,” Davis said.

In August, 1987, Army private Ralph Myers was arrested after he flew his plane within 1,000 feet of a helicopter carrying Reagan near his ranch in Santa Barbara County.

The Federal Aviation Administration revoked Myers’ pilot’s license, and last March, a Los Angeles federal judge sentenced Myers to 60 days in prison for lying to investigators.