PORT HUENEME : Officers Disciplined for Drawing Guns

Two undercover Port Hueneme police officers have been disciplined for drawing their service revolvers on a group of surfers last month without identifying themselves.

After an investigation, unspecified personnel actions were taken against Officer Bill Ayub, a 24-year-old rookie, and Reserve Officer Guy Gates, 30, Port Hueneme Police Lt. John C. Hopkins said.

Charges were withdrawn against a 25-year-old surfer who had been accused of assaulting an officer and resisting arrest, Hopkins said.

“I feel stoked,” said Tim Tilsner of Port Hueneme, a driver for a delivery service, after learning that charges had been dropped.

The two police officers were reprimanded for their role in the Aug. 12 incident that began when they tried to confiscate a miniature souvenir bat from Debbi Barnack, 31, of Oxnard, who was at the beach with a group of friends.

Witnesses said the officers, who were dressed in civilian clothes, assaulted Tilsner, 25, when he grabbed the painted and engraved 12-inch bat from Barnack and tried to run away.

He stopped when one of the officers drew his gun and ordered him to halt, Tilsner said. Witnesses say the officer held his gun to Tilsner’s head and ordered him to lie face-down.

After interviewing the two officers, other responding police and witnesses, Hopkins said the version of events described by the surfers appeared to be accurate. “We could see from our end we had some problems,” Hopkins said, describing the officers as “overzealous” in the seizure.

The officers made a mistake by not clearly identifying themselves, he said. The badges on their belts were obscured by loose-fitting sweat shirts.

“If the kids out there didn’t know they were dealing with cops, then the case falls apart,” Hopkins said.

Tilsner said he was satisfied with how the Police Department had handled the matter. “All I wanted from it was to have them drop the charges,” he said.