crime

Man arrested for hitting police officer who interfered with his Pokemon GO game

13 Comments
By SoraNews24

Since it’s explosive release back in 2016, the smartphone game Pokemon GO has managed to maintain a steady popularity for years. However, perhaps unexpectedly, a large majority of active players (known as “trainers” in the game) in Japan are men and women in between the ages of 35 and 60, many of whom enjoy the exercise and stress-reducing effects that walking around throwing balls at animals is said to create.

You might think that such an age group would be relatively responsible and respectful when playing public areas, but regardless of age all civility goes out the window when rare pocket monsters are at stake. For example in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, a 40-year-old trainer was arrested for striking a police officer whom he accused of interfering with his Pokemon hunting.

The incident occurred at approximately 3 p.m. on Feb 23 when the officer responded to reports of a large flock of roughly 50 Pokemon GO trainers congregating on a street near a hotel and blocking the sidewalk.

When the officer arrived, two trainers were still there. He asked one to leave and they complied. However, when confronted, the one remaining Pokemon trainer allegedly said, “Because of you, I couldn’t get it,” referring to some kind of cute imaginary creature, and then hit the policeman.

Details are sketchy at the moment, but it is believed that due to the large number of people in a single place it may have been a limited EX Raid Battle which offers a chance to catch a very rare Pokemon. The trainer is denying charges, saying, “I never raised my hand.”

Comments online showed little sympathy for the suspect.

“Decent trainers only have themselves to blame for not catching Pokémon.”

“Looks like a trainer got himself caught.”

“That’s funny.”

“Sounds like a Pokémon battle broke out.”

“A wild officer of the law appeared!”

“It’s okay to enjoy a game but bothering other people is wrong. Especially a 40-year-old should be ashamed.”

“What an idiot.”

“He’s probably a SoftBank user, they were having a special event that day.”

As the last comment pointed out, the incident occurred on the Pokemon GO Special Weekend, a nationwide event where players can catch other rare Pokemon such as Unown and a higher rate of shiny versions. However, participation is limited to customers or invitees of major telecom company SoftBank. This significantly raises the stakes of game for a limited time and possibly pushed that one trainer over the edge.

Sources: Asahi Shimbun, Hachima Kiko

Read more stories from SoraNews24.

-- Four feel good stories about Pokémon Go that are the very best, like no story ever was

-- Is Pokémon Go helping prevent deaths at one of Japan’s most notorious suicide spots?

-- Poké Ball mobile battery will keep your phone fully charged for all this summer’s Pokémon fun

© SoraNews24

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

13 Comments
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Maybe if he spends a few days in detention, without his phone, he will learn a valuable lesson.  It is Pokemon - not Pokepolicemon.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

He asked one to leave and they complied.

The one with multiple personalities?

3 ( +7 / -4 )

Didn't that fad die out already..

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Pokemon Go does interfere with the outside world because of AR and your phone, pointing at random things. Which by law can invade ones space if in close proximity. So in plain English: wagging your phone around like a weirdo to people's face to catch a pokemon, is invading ones personal space by law. Games is fine of course, but some weirdos, take things to far

3 ( +5 / -2 )

@scrote

I don't think you are supposed to throw balls at animals: you throw a ball that the animal can chase.

I don't think I want to admit that I know this, but you throw the ball at the animal to capture it inside it...

@do the hustle

The addiction to video games in middle aged or older people is absolutely pathetic! It’s a kind of mental illness... Most of the prosper are over 35 years old. Get a life people! You are a pathetic drain on society!

I'm 44 and work full time at a decent job as a graphic designer. After working a full day, if I choose to relax playing some video games as an adult, that's my choice. I'm not a drain on anything and am a fully productive member of society. It's really nice of you to lump everyone together as 'mentally ill' because a childish adult threw a temper tantrum.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

I understood from this article that one idiot hit a police officer, but the rest of 90% went over my head. Time to start playing it?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

And also Nintendo and google monitor all you're GPS movements with pokemon Go, all for catching animated monsters..

1 ( +3 / -2 )

''Is this the police?? Hurry, there are some people minding their business and having fun with their smartphones nearby a hotel and blocking the sidewalk!''

0 ( +5 / -5 )

As an avid player and fan of the game, this idiot is an embarrassment. Even in my community there are members playing that can't seem to understand the idea that we shouldn't be inconveniencing local areas by jamming up the streets. Public safety and normal function of public roads and walkways take priority over catching Pokemon.

I highly recommend anyone on the fence check the game out, but to please do so safely. The dunce that attacked the officer should be punished to the full extent of the law as well. A real trainer wouldn't point their finger at others for their inability. Git gud.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

many of whom enjoy the exercise and stress-reducing effects that walking around throwing balls at animals is said to create

I don't think you are supposed to throw balls at animals: you throw a ball that the animal can chase.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

People are still playing Pokemon Go? Should be at home playing Fortnite or Splatoon surely?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

The addiction to video games in middle aged or older people is absolutely pathetic! It’s a kind of mental illness. I cannot count the amount of middle aged people playing Candy Crush or some other equally ridiculous game on the trains every day. Yet, these same mentally ill people are parents who forbid their children playing games and lash out with physical abuse if the child interrupts their games. It is just pathetic! That is the only adjective I can use. The nutter in this article is a very good example. He lashed out at a police officer over his pathetic little game. There is a Pokemon Go site near my place and every month or so I see 30-40 people all hovering around waiting for their Pokémon to appear. Most of the prosper are over 35 years old. Get a life people! You are a pathetic drain on society!

-4 ( +7 / -11 )

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