U.S soldier arrested for trespassing in Okinawa City: possibly intoxicated

January 3, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

On January 2, the Okinawa Police Station arrested a 23-year-old second class-ranking staff sergeant, based at Kadena Air Base, on suspicion of trespassing. He was sent to the public prosecutor’s office. According to the police station, the suspect denies the charges.

The suspect’s breath smelled of alcohol, but he refused an alcohol test.
On December 9, U.S Forces in Japan eased its ‘liberty policy,’ which is the off-base code of conduct for U.S service members and its civilian personnel on Okinawa during off-duty hours, alleging the number of incidents and accidents involving U.S. military personnel had decreased. The Okinawa Prefectural Assembly adopted a resolution asking the U.S military commander in Okinawa to rescind the easing of the policy.

After the U.S. military notified the Okinawa Prefectural Government about the change to the code of conduct measures on November 26, eight incidents involving U.S. service members under the influence of alcohol have taken place.

The suspect entered an apartment uninvited in Okinawa City at 4:04 a.m. on January 1.

According to the police station, the resident of the apartment, who is a construction worker, woke up after hearing the suspect’s cell-phone ringing. He then found the soldier asleep next to him in the bedroom. It appeared the suspect entered the room through the unlocked front door.

(English translation by T&CT)

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