Wednesday 22nd April, 02:08 AM JST
HYOGO —
A 32-year-old man, who was arrested for theft on Monday
afternoon, escaped from Nishinomiya police station after the
19-year-old police officer watching him in the questioning room
dozed off.
Police mobilized about 170 officers to find Takami Yonezawa, an
unemployed resident of Osaka City, but he turned himself in on
Tuesday at around 1 p.m., accompanied by a lawyer. He denied the
allegation of theft, and did not elaborate on why he ran out of the
police station nor why he turned himself in.
Police said Yonezawa was arrested Monday afternoon on suspicion
of theft, accused of stealing a bag from a parked car in
Nishinomiya City at around 3 a.m. that morning. He was taken to
Nishinomiya police station where a 34-year-old sergeant and a
19-year-old constable started questioning him at around 3.30
p.m.
About half an hour later, the sergeant left the room for 10
minutes to print out some documents, during which time the
constable fell asleep. Yonezawa was not handcuffed while in the
room, but was bound to the chair he was sitting in by a rope. He
was able to free himself from that, left the room, and managed to
leave the police station without being seen.
Police said the 19-year-old constable had graduated from the
academy in January, after which he was dispatched to Nishinomiya
police station. This month, he has been undergoing training in
criminal procedures. As to why he fell asleep, the constable said
he was tired, and along with the sergeant may be subject to
disciplinary measures.
Chiaki Yoneda, chief of the police station, said there was no
procedural issue with arresting Yonezawa twice for the same alleged
theft, and said he was disappointed his officers had created unease
among the public.
