crime

Suspect in train groping case escapes from police 'koban' by back door

65 Comments

Police are investigating how a man was able to escape from police custody while being detained at a police box ("koban") in Tokyo.

The Shakujii police department said the man, who was being held on suspicion of groping a woman in a train car on the Seibu Shinjuku line, escaped from the "koban" opposite Kami-shakujii Station in Nerima Ward on June 18, TBS reported.

The police sergeant on duty, a man in his 50s, made the suspect wait in a back room at around 8 p.m. while he questioned the alleged victim. When he later went to question the man, the sergeant realized that the suspect had left the station by an unlocked back door, TBS reported.

According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, the sergeant had not yet taken the man's name, and as such, his identity is unknown. Before being left alone in the room, the suspect reportedly told the officer, "This has nothing to do with me."

There was no other officer on duty at the time.

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65 Comments
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FAIL

8 ( +10 / -2 )

You gotta "hand" it to the guy. He's bold and looks like he lucked out this time.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

That's the level of professionalism we all have come to expect from J-cops.

Then again, with the completely absurd and bogus conviction rate of Japan, I'd also run even if innocent. Especially if I hadn't done anything.

12 ( +14 / -2 )

LOL! Classic! Keystones in their finest hour!

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Police are investigating how a man was able to escape from police custody while being detained at a police box

Let me help. Bad guy is sitting there. Bad guy notices back door is open. Bad guy gets up, looks around, and walks out back door.

13 ( +16 / -3 )

Ya know...ya can't really blame the 50 year old "veteran" cop. These guys are conditioned to be out of touch bumbling idiots from day 1 of training. Don't blame the man. Blame THE MAN.

S

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Gaijinfo,

If possible, I would make you the chief of police!

I really wonder what they teach the police during their training or the actual teat to become an officer....????

Last time my wife and I went to the police they were more interested in why my wife married a gaijin then helping us.....! I constantly see people breaking the law (mainly traffic laws) and all they do is stand there with that dumb wooden pole!

9 ( +11 / -2 )

i think it is time that the J-cops get their own bumbling theme song.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

I feel sad for the police "occifer" in question...I mean, look at the kind of shaming he's getting (okay, he deserves it, but still).

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Gross neglect of duty!

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Good job!!

But maybe he really didn't do it. I have heard so much about false accusations I try to ride the crowded trains w/both hands up.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

@sillygirl Look no further than the theme of Benny Hill.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

ROFLMAO

EPIC FAIL!!!

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Probably forgot to re-lock it after his cigarette break.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Classic J-cops! My guess is that even if the back door were locked it was probably locked from the inside -- which the suspect could un-lock. Anyway, looks like the guy got lucky this time -- because of how stupid the police officer in question was, they never got his name, ID, or anything else. I feel sorry for the victim.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

It was a mistake...that made him escape.. anyway '' This has nothing to do with me ''

It was not a mistake that made him kill when saying '' I am innocent don't kill me '

I love Japanese police. They are sweet , extremely polite...

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Not all J cops are as useless as this idiot bozo 50 year old slob and mush for brains sitting there at Kamishakuji, be nice if they could FIRE fools like this!

1 ( +4 / -3 )

You would think "Police 101" is to first attempt to identify the person in custody: "What's your name?" "Show me your ID".

2 ( +4 / -2 )

They did get him 9 days latter using security videos for ID. Not sure why this isn't mentioned. There is an obvious procedural problem when dealing with suspects. Secure, identify, question. What training to these people actually receive?

5 ( +7 / -2 )

If 99% of suspects in Japan end up in prison, is this what happens to that 1% ?

6 ( +6 / -0 )

This guy had his broken arm in a plaster cast, I think I read somewhere, so they had been unable to cuff him.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Looks like Mr. Groper gave him the slip.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

This is hilarious. Brightened up my morning.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Hilarious... Be thankfull that the guy that got away was perhaps only a groper and not a murderer or rapist!

Bet the guy that escaped is laughing his head off and his hands are free to wander once again

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Police are investigating how a man was able to escape from police custody while being detained at a police box [...]

When he later went to question the man, the sergeant realized that the suspect had left the station by an unlocked back door [...]

What's there to investigate?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

They did get him 9 days latter using security videos for ID.

Does this mean that this was only in the news because they caught him in the end? Would this have made the news had he not been found (to save face)?

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

As one door shuts another one was able to be opened

1 ( +2 / -1 )

"wait here and don't touch anything"

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Here's a thought. What if the alleged groper was a fellow cop and the unlocked door was an inside job to save face for Tokyo's 'finest'?

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

I think you are a bit hard on the cops here. There are good cops out there.

Unfortunately, I have never met one.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Priceless! You can't write stuff like this. I should compile all these Jpolice stories and write a script for "Police Academy in Japan"

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Liberty Joe Lowe ALLEGED groper. If I was an innocent accused in that way and the door was open, I wouldnt be there long myself either. Have you seen the movie about the guy who is wrongly accused of chikan and it ruins his life coz he wont make a false guilty plea?

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Another day another stupid Japanese policemen, probally left the door open so that he didn't have to do any work!

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

They should make a sitcom out of all these J-police blunders. As funny as it is though, it IS a worry that one of those gropers is back on the loose. Ladies, please be vigilant.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Well the suspect said, “This has nothing to do with me". Surely that makes it an open & shut case, no? The policeman probably heard this and realised that the suspect wouldn't dare lie to him, and so left the door open for him to go on his way.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

As funny as it is though, it IS a worry that one of those gropers is back on the loose.

No investigation, no charges, no trial, but Judge Ted has already made his decision. Fine work, your Honour!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

open and shut open and shut now give a little clap clap clap

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Have you seen the movie about the guy who is wrongly accused of chikan and it ruins his life coz he wont make a false guilty plea?

Scary reality! Then there are girls who actually do this to make money - making false claims, 'cause they know the alleged groper will be likely to pay up to avoid embarressment and prosecution.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

y3chome:

Have you seen the movie about the guy who is wrongly accused of chikan and it ruins his life coz he wont make a false guilty plea?

Scary reality! Then there are girls who actually do this to make money - making false claims, 'cause they know the alleged groper will be likely to pay up to avoid embarressment and prosecution.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

This is my nomination for the J-Police theme song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sC75aU47GRk

Hold somebody on suspicion of a crime, put him in a room with an unlocked exit, don't even ask his name and then hold an investigation into how he was able to escape. Magnificent policework. These people make the Keystone Kops look like Sherlock Holmes.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Its a big jump to say, inside job, lack of training is probably more on topic. They did get him. That's not really the point. A professional investigation, that includes his fleeing, be due to guilt or just set up, should come out in an investigation. Sadly the standards of professionalism are lacking and the results dubious. There is a problem/s with the criminal system here and a lack of connect. A great example child porn filters recognize only web addresses but not Ipp address so it's business as usual although the law claims to have stoped it! Actions count talk does not, when suspect can fling themselves of a roof, cut their own throat, self immolate while under supervision most reasonable people would say, there is a problem? Yet there appers not be no systemic action to improve the accontability or training, these story's are funny give you that but the core problem is training yet it's not a topic. Recognize the problem and fix it. 1 there is a problem. 2 fix it.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

There are even teams consisting of a girl and a couple of "witnesses" going around acccusing people of groping to make easy money

This is absolutely true. it happened to my friends husband - they were coming out of an elevator and two guys and a girl were clearly harassing him, bumping into him and trying to start something. He ignored them but they followed him across the car park muttering and staring. In the end he turned around and said "Whats your problem?" They all started arguing and suddenly the girl started screaming really loudly "GEt your handsoff me! Dont touch my boobs!" - then he realised what was going on and jumped into his car and drove away.

Until women in this country start fighting back when someone touches them this problem is not going to stop. Maybe thats how this guy got his broken arm? If guilty, then I hope so.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Hilarious, only in Japan could such a drop kick actually become a cop, and a sergeant to boot. Seriously, he didnt check the door was locked? He didnt even get the guys name? This plod will probably even end up getting promoted... Ah J cops.... Not the sharpest tools in the shed.....

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Policeman: "What do you mean this place has a front door AND a back door!?"

1 ( +2 / -1 )

May be the good Sarg was too busy asking the victim to demonstrate where and how she was groped and didn't notice the dude had sliped. Honest mistake.............................next

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Apologies. My mix-up. I mentioned above the story about a guy wearing a cast who escaped from the police station, but it was in Sapporo yesterday; the guy was being arrested by 4 cops for amphetamine use when he jumped in the car and drove off.

http://news.goo.ne.jp/article/asahi/nation/K2012062800022.html

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I wonder if the policeman knew the groper and arranged for the "escape".

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Could it be? Could it be? Could it be that he was an off-duty cop? Oh, yes! Very possible...

0 ( +2 / -2 )

He shuffled off to Buffalo...

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

So, any chance he picked the lock? Or that another officer left it unlocked?

You know, this is what Japan gets for having a gentler society. If these are the warts I must endure to live in this gentler society, then so be it.

Another place this never would have happened, either because my taxes paid for more police on duty, or because they toss him in a cell with some random scumbag (cell costs me money too) or because they would make sure he would not be able to walk at least for a few months.

Yes, I prefer to be able to laugh at the cops than to quiver at the sight of them or always envision tax money getting flushed down the toilet. One suspected groper got away. Life will go on.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Missed him by that much!

The old sneak out of the police station through the back door trick! J-cops are like the Germans of Hogan's Heroes meets Get Smart. Add in Benny Hill for when THEY are the ones doing the groping.

Still you have to give someone credit for getting him to the kouban in the first place. ganbatta no ni.... oshii!

The groper probably distracted the cop by saying "Hey look, there's a gaijin over there on a bicycle without a seal. Don't you think that's fishy?", then had some more time to make his daring getaway.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The story is inconclusive. If he was being detained (possibly there to be questioned voluntarily) as opposed to being told he was arrested, he has the right to leave any time and should do so as soon as he can. There is a significant difference and every one should be aware, especially as foreigners to know your rights so that if you are singled out because you look different. What may appear to some as jail breaking etc, may in fact be by far the best thin g to do to avoid the %99 conviction rate and police abuse and forced confessions. Look around and you will find these kinds of cases very quickly and they are quite frightening.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

'police are investigating how a man was able to escape' . . . Hope they pursue all avenues of inquiry - the ventilation system? Filed through bars on the windows? Might have to call in a magician to figure out this latter-day Houdini's trick.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! The Keystone cops strike again!!! Is this Comedy Central website I am reading, because it sure isn't Mug Shots. What an absolute BONEHEAD... First you take everyone's name!!!! Then you start questioning after you have locked the door. What an idiot? What are they teaching these guys sometimes? I feel sorry for the girl though. Have to be sexually harassed and then have the guy escape out the backdoor while you talk to an absolute idiot just adds salt the wounds. FIRE THAT INCOMPETENT KEYSTONE COP!!!!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I hope that the old show COPS doesn't film any episodes in Japan. After one season premier no one will follow the rules.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

After one season premier no one will follow the rules.

It is really annoying when people think others only obey the rules because of fear of the police and punishment. In fact, most people are good people and obey the rules because they fear shame.

Fearing shame works the opposite way when people run though. They run because they fear shame, even if running is against the rules. But he may well have been innocent of the groping. Doesn't matter, shame still plays a part because in Japan, once nabbed, everyone assumes you are guilty. And just getting accused is already a great shame (which is stupid).

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Why so many cop stories.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

All he did was cop; no biggie!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The level of incompetence is mind-blowing.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Oh, man! He got away before they could force him to confess to a bunch of other stuff, too.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Hee hee! This is exactly how I escaped a koban once. Right through the back door! In my case the omawarisan was making me do paperwork for turning in a wallet I found with 5,000 yen in it, I told him I didn't have time, but he insisted on making me fill out this form, but then he got busy with a woman asking for directions, so I slipped out the back door, hee hee!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@Serrano

I will never return another wallet in Japan again. My wife and I wound up at the koban for nearly an hour. Now, if I spot a wallet, I just keep walking.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I will never return another wallet in Japan again. My wife and I wound up at the koban for nearly an hour.

Just tell them "Sorry, I've got a train to catch," and leave. Worked twice for me.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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