OKINAWA (The Japan News/ANN): Japanese police arrested a US Air Force captain on Saturday (Nov 14) on suspicion of drunk driving in Okinawa, a police spokesman said, in the latest twist to strains between the Pacific allies.
He became the second personnel member arrested for driving under the influence amid an alcohol ban imposed by US forces following a robbery-murder case committed by a Marine last month.
The arrest comes just a week after Tokyo and Washington agreed to measures aimed at preventing crimes by US service members on the island of Okinawa after a murder allegedly involving an American Marine triggered outrage.
The 27-year-old, stationed at Kadena Air Base, was arrested on the spot for drunken driving near an entertainment district in Okinawa City at around 3:10am on Saturday, according to police, with his blood alcohol level about three times the legal limit.
He told police that he believed his blood alcohol level had not reached the legal limit and that he thought he would be fine to drive as his home was nearby.
In October, a 20-year-old marine was arrested for allegedly killing a woman in a hotel room in Naha and stealing her belongings. U.S. forces in Okinawa Prefecture imposed a ban for all service members, under which they were prohibited from leaving the base and from drinking alcohol in and outside the bases from Oct. 7 to 9.
The US military designated the following 30 days as a period of reflection, prohibiting personnel from leaving between midnight and 5 a.m.
However, another Marine was arrested on Oct. 31 on suspicion of driving under the influence.
The measure has been extended until Dec. 7, under which lower-ranking personnel are prohibited from leaving the bases between midnight and 5am, while all service members are barred from consuming alcohol outside the bases and their homes after midnight.
The US military has around 54,000 personnel stationed in Japan, mostly on Okinawa. Crimes committed by its members have been a thorn in relations between the close security allies.
Police arrested the 27-year-old as he was driving on a road in Okinawa City at around 3:09am Saturday,” a spokesman for Okinawa prefectural police said. “It is not clear if he violated the curfew imposed by US officials."
The arrested captain was assigned to Kadena Air Base on Okinawa, Kyodo News reported.
Officials at the base were not immediately available for comment.
