KANAGAWA (TR) – Kanagawa Prefectural Police on Tuesday arrested the head of a train molestation control division for allegedly groping a teenage girl in Hiratsuka City, reports public broadcaster NHK (Oct. 29).
At around 10:00 p.m., Hironori Nagasaki, a 30-year-old head patrol officer, is alleged to have approached the girl, a 19-year-old university student, inside a parking lot in front of JR Hiratsuka Station and fondled her body.
Nagasaki, who has been charged with violating public nuisance codes, has reportedly admitted to the allegations. “I did a bad thing to her,” the suspect is quoted by police.
During the incident, the victim let out a scream and Nagasaki fled the scene. He was subsequently apprehended by a male passerby about 50 meters away.
At the the time, Nagasaki, who supervises the division responsible for patrolling trains for gropers, was off duty. He told police he was on his way home after drinking.
“It was an act unworthy of a police officer,” said Yoshinori Koshimizu, a supervisor from the Kanagawa Prefectural Police. “I deeply apologize to the victim and local residents. We will endeavor to investigate the matter further, and deal with it in the most strict manner.”