Joe Curley

joe.curley@vcstar.com, 805-437-0276

Schirmer was ejected, arrested in third quarter

He was bailed out of Ventura County jail Sunday morning

He says the incident was unintentional, apologizes

A Mount San Antonio College football player said he didn’t intend to punch a football referee Saturday night at Ventura College.



Bernard Schirmer, who was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a referee, said Sunday that he wasn’t trying to punch the side judge and is “truly sorry.”



“When he fell down, I thought somebody else hit him,” Schirmer said.

Schirmer, 19, was ejected from Saturday night’s California community college football game at the Ventura College Sportsplex after he appeared to strike the side judge who was escorting him back to the huddle as he jawed with an opponent.



“My friends were trying to pull me back away from the defensive end,” Schirmer said. “I didn’t know the ref was right inside of me, bear hugging me.”



Schirmer said he often attempts to compose himself by hitting himself on the helmet “so I calm myself down.”



“I didn’t mean any of that to happen,” Schirmer said. “I’m truly sorry about what happened to the ref.”

The Ventura County Sheriff's Office said Sunday that Ventura College police booked Schirmer into county jail on suspicion of felony battery on a sports official.

Mount San Antonio College released a statement on Sunday saying they maintain high standards of conduct for all students. Officials also said they closely reviewed video footage and talked to witnesses and concluded that Schirmer "unintentionally hit the referee."

"Mount San Antonio College will continue to complete an assessment of his conduct to determine what sanctions, if any, are appropriate for the incident. Additionally, the college is fully cooperating with investigations by other agencies," officials said in the statement.

Schirmer was released on bail about 7 a.m. Sunday, said sheriff's Capt. Romano Bassi.



Bassi said the case is being handled by college police.



"It's their investigation," he said. "All we did was take the body because we're a jail."

It will be up to the Ventura County District Attorney's Office to decide whether to formally charge Schirmer.

Player arrested in assault on ref during Ventura College football game

Schirmer's father, Craig Schirmer, said a court date has been set for Sept. 26. Such a setting is a formality. It doesn't mean Schirmer necessarily will be charged.



“We’re going to go in and plead not guilty,” Craig Schirmer said. “If they ask us why, we’re going to say, 'Please look at the tape.’ ”



Craig Schirmer said the video shows his son made contact with the referee only after first hitting himself in the helmet.



“What he does when he gets mad is, he hits himself in the mouth,” Schirmer said. “My son never intentionally swung at the ref. He swung at himself to calm himself down. My son didn’t even notice him there.”



The referee was knocked unconscious, according to Ventura College police. He was attended to by trainers and did not return to the game. He has not been identified.

“Unfortunately, the ref was right there,” Craig Schirmer said. “My son had no ill intentions. ... Stuff happens on the field. Unfortunately, the ref got in the middle of this one.”



College officials and police said Saturday that the referee wasn’t interested in pressing charges. A video clip of the incident, which happened between plays in the third quarter, was initially used by police to determine whether to arrest the 6-foot-5, 270-pound offensive lineman from Lakewood High. It then went viral nationally and was shown on ESPN’s SportsCenter.



The game was being broadcast by SoCalCollegeSports.com.



Ventura College athletic director Will Cowen directed calls to the Ventura County Community College District’s public relations office “due to the nature of a suspected felony charge on a college campus.”



The incident marred a memorable night for the Ventura College football team, which upset the No.1–ranked team in JCFootball.com’s national poll with a 34-29 come-from-behind win.

Star staff writer Mike Harris contributed to this report.