Pilot Acquitted of Resisting Detention in Reagan Flyover

A Riverside County pilot who was confronted by Orange County sheriff’s deputies after flying over restricted air space near former President Ronald Reagan’s Bel-Air Estates home late last year was acquitted Tuesday of criminal charges of resisting detention.

“I just feel super, great. It feels good to be a free man again,” said Douglas Davis, 44, of Rubidoux after Municipal Court jury in Newport Beach took just a few hours to find him not guilty of the misdemeanor charge at the close of a two-week trial.

Davis is pursuing a civil claim, charging that he was roughed up by an Orange County sheriff’s deputy during an altercation at John Wayne Airport where he was held until federal agents arrived to question him. Davis’ attorney said Tuesday that his claim was bolstered by the jury’s finding.

“Had he lost the criminal case, the civil case would have been essentially worthless,” attorney Scott Raphael said. “The jury didn’t believe the officer’s testimony that Davis was resisting him, which leaves the question of why he used the force he did.”

On Dec. 28, Davis, a part-time pilot for an aerial map-making firm, was ordered to land at John Wayne Airport by Federal Aviation Adminstration officials after he flew over Reagan’s home on an assignment.

At the time, low-level flights over the area were prohibited when the outgoing President was at home, but Davis claimed that he was not informed by aviation officials that the restriction was in effect on that day.

After he landed at the Orange County airport, deputies who searched him maintained that in the course of that search, Davis made a sudden motion toward his right, prompting Deputy Charles Shinn to apply a wrist lock on him.

But Davis maintains that Shinn’s treatment--causing screams heard by witnesses and bruised tendons in his shoulder--was unprovoked. Davis is seeking $1 million in his lawsuit against the county and individual defendants for the alleged “torture.”

Deputy Dist. Atty. David Frank, who prosecuted the case, said after the acquittal: “It was a tough case. I could see where the jury might have found a reasonable doubt about his guilt.”

Frank said his case was hampered by allegations presented in court of excessive force by Shinn on two other occasions.

“That kind of evidence is very damaging and has the effect of putting the officer on trial,” he said.

Shinn could not be reached for comment Tuesday on the verdict.