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.
© News reports
48 Comments
Login to comment
nisegaijin
that is hilarous! doesn't get more Japanese than this
neverknow2
I'm not sure which is funnier: Dozing off after 10 mins or Being bound to a chair with rope or A 19 year old constable?????
IvanCoughalot
This is my favourite quote this year.
Richard_the_First
Love the use of rope. Maybe they use carrier pigeons to send messages too.
timorborder
There is nothing to see here. Move on, Move on! Haven't all of you got better things to do with your life! Show me your ID cards!
All this young policeman was doing was practicing for when he makes Detective Chief Superintendent. For those of you that don't know, other important criteria for senior Police rank are the ability to suck one's teeth after meals, smoke like a chimney and have a general inability to act. Furthermore, it is also understood that senior officers will have a solid background in both sexist and xenophobic behavior. I wonder how far this young policeman has advanced in his study of these important qualities?
By the way, only in Japan would the criminal hand himself back to the police. Just goes to show how organized crime is in Japan with all the stakeholders understanding their place.
Kubear
Lol... yay for police bloopers.
hoserfella
to quote Sean Connery in "Untouchables"; "There goes the next chief of police"...
30061015
Is there an official public anxiety meter used by the police to test when they "create unease among the public", or do the cops just feel better faking remorse with this kind of suck up comment for public consumption?
tasha77
The 19 year old just did what came natuarally to him during his last 7 years of schooling in Japan.........sleep. Can you pick the correct answer as to what will happen next: a) the 19 year old will end his life because of embarrassment and constant jibes made by his workmates. b) the person in charge will do the japanese deep bow to the TV cameras and all will be forgotten. c) his superior will take full responsibilty and resign......cough cough cough. d) Nothing at all because this is Japan and nothing the keystone cops do surprises anyone.
Soohyen
this is funny!LOL!
Netgaijin
Did they tie both his hands or one? Don't they have a handcuff?
smithinjapan
And people wonder why others bash the J-police! Hilarious!
Disillusioned
Why isn't this in the entertainment section?
scoobydoo
Did they tickle the truth out of him after tying him up with rope? Maybe threatened him with the prospect of being put in a bath of eels then shown on TV. This is a really funny story, they didn't create any stress to the public at all, its comic relief, far better than the stupid comedians I have seen on TV.
TokyoGas
This story is too funny. The police should have used velcro. LOL
whyamiinjapan
You know, sometimes I really love Japan for this sort of thing. Everything turns out alright in the end. I hope they don't give the young cop too hard of a time. Ha haa!
Coolasapool
too funny.. so, he was arrested for stealing a bag, but sounds like there was no bag in his possesion.. good work bailing out and coming back with a lawyer.. well done.
LoveUSA
poor sleepy cop, you are so cute, sleeping on your post. It was lucky the criminal was kind and did not injure you. Next time be more careful and do not sleep on your job.
norinrad21
hehehe well what was he supposed to do, sit there and look at him? This young guy should be handed his own koban
Potsu
They mobilized 170 men to get a thief ?? God,what do they do when there's a real criminal around ?? Hilarious stuff.
Dennis Bauer
I go to Hyogo at the end of the month, i feel safer allready
NuckinFutz
A 19 year old cop in a country where you're not an adult until you turn 20? Tying somebody to a chair with rope? I agree that someone should write a book of police blunders in Japan, and then get Mel Brooks to make it into a movie!
intomioka
Bound by a rope?
DeepAir65
too funny!
Coolasapool
are they sure they werent in the basement at Zeds hous with all this tying people to chairs with rope? very dubious
sunny117
The questioning was meant to put the suspect on good sleep
rather it effected the young cop........
and not just that........it was already his break time.........
taking a nap during the break is allowed..isnt it ??
LoveUSA
taking a nap is ok. the police man was tired after hard work.
norinrad21
are they sure they werent in the basement at Zeds hous
hahahaha love the pulp fiction reference
tokyokawasaki
Why would they use a rope? isn't this 2009?
Leopalace
The rope detail is kind of interesting
Leopalace
Next we'll find out he had a ball gag in his mouth.
bcbrownboy
I'm sure Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin are gigglin' now!
sensei258
Potsu -"They mobilized 170 men to get a thief ??" Not because of the level of the crime, but because of the embarrassment to the police:-)
bampaku
"Why did you fall asleep?"
"Because I was tired."
"Oh... OK."
memyselfI
WHAT kind of rope torture where they going to use ?
ca1ic0cat
This poor slob was probably told to turn himself in by his family.
memyselfI
Why were they using rope ? An S&M thing ?
likeitis
Do you imagine that no one has escaped when handcuffs were used?
Usually when I see cops with a suspect or prisoner, they have a rope attached to him like a leash. Seems smart to me. Even a handcuffed guy cant get away from you, but no solution is perfect.
But, yes, I think it is an S&M thing too frankly. But its has good points. For example, its cost effective.
sharky1
The guy left because he couldn't take the torture of boredom in the interrogation room. Even the officer watching him fell victim to the intense level of boredom, and was finally overtaken. Worse than water-boarding. I think that being tied up with rope in a law enforcement facility is a crime of some sort. This whole thing is just too funny for words. Send the police officers to seaman school so they can learn to tie knots!
jalways
You have to love japan and the stupidity.
medievaltimes
Thanks for the laugh JT.
uperjer
keystone cops.
mindovermatter
Unbelievable....?
Bound by a rope....?
Is this a misprint...?
WTF....?
These cops should be arrested for being idiots, and for their conduct...?
They teach this at the Japanese police academy...? WTF...?
DentShop
"Hey what happened?"
"Huh, uh what do you mean?
"The prisoner. He is gone..."
"What? Him? Etoo... He is running a leg of the Police Eki-Den. Yes, thats right..."
"Very good. One day I will run in an Eki-Den"
"Zzzzzz"
tasha77
The young pup was too tired from walking the streets checking bicycles.
nath
I really think JT should provide an audio link to yakety sax music to accompany stories about Japanese police ...
mnemosyne23
170 OFFICERS?! For an unemployed guy who's SUSPECTED of stealing ONE bag left in somebody's car at three in the morning? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? No theft is allowable under law, and if he's guilty then justice should be meted out accordingly. But seriously -- 170 officers? ARE. YOU. KIDDING. ME?
And best of all -- THEY DIDN'T EVEN FIND HIM. He turned HIMSELF in.
Wow. Just... You have to laugh, or you'll break down and CRY at the incompetence.