Fukushima flasher caught red-handed by female police officer

Friday 06th November, 06:07 AM JST

FUKUSHIMA —

Police on Thursday arrested a 68-year-old man after he stood on the road and flashed a female plainclothes police officer who was riding in an unmarked patrol car in Nihonmatsu city, Fukushima Prefecture.

According to police, there had been reports of a man walking along in the same area during morning rush hour with his trousers unbuttoned flashing commuters since May. Because many of the reports came from young women driving past the area, police placed a policewoman in her 20s on patrol to catch the man.

The suspect, identified as Tatsuo Watanabe, flashed the police officer as she drove by around 9:15 a.m.

Wire reports

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Latest 15 of 33 Total Comments Show All

combinibento at 01:59 PM JST - 6th November

meloveulongtime, come on dude. Just speculating here but perhaps they were happy not because their kids avoided seeing someone naked but because they avoided witnessing a criminal act by a pervert. Flashing strangers on a road in the morning is not the same as a dad taking a bath with his kids. Use some common sense.
meloveulongtime at 02:10 PM JST - 6th November

is hardly seems like a "criminal act" like rape or kidnapping...if anything this is humorous...old man swinging his junk around...sorry that is just funny...
LFRAgain at 04:10 PM JST - 6th November

Bamboohat,

"And why in the world was a plainclothes officer doing in patrol car?

"And why in the world did a guy flash a lady in a cop car?

You're assuming that it was, but the article makes no mention of what kind of car the officer used. Which sort of make your following question moot.

But to answer your initial question about why it took the police so long to catch him, I would venture to guess that a 68-year old man flashing drivers along a busy stretch of road does not exactly constitute an imminent threat or danger to the public. Devoting greater resources than an undercover officer seems like an unnecessary waste of tax money, IMO.
thomyorke at 04:38 PM JST - 6th November

Haha, Japanese crimes are hillarious. Retarded criminals and inept cops (6 months to catch a flasher who was spotted in the same place for 6 months) make many laughs for the gaijin watching from the side
ashika1009 at 04:52 PM JST - 6th November

JT. Thomyorke up there uses the word "retarded." Shouldn`t that be "mentally handicapped/impaired"? I am offended by such politically incorrect language! Shocked! Shocked to find it on this blob!
taisho999 at 07:09 PM JST - 6th November

His red hands weren't the only thing caught.....
Lowly at 08:00 PM JST - 6th November

Peeing in public is different. Public nudity is different. (peeing and changing clothes). You have to accept it here. Stop feeling so uncomfortable about something natural and normal to the ppl who live here. It's not harmful to you or your kids unless you have an uptight reaction and give your kids a complex.

On the other hand, flashing people is creepy and scary but in most cases (not all) harmless. He probably wants attention, to make a shock or be acknowledged, more than anything. Ignore him and move on is best.
presto345 at 09:03 PM JST - 6th November

Moderator: It was an unmarked patrol car.

Yeah, some people can't read, or don't take the time for it.

Urinating in public is an offense and public nudity and exposing oneself is too, especially if it carries a provocative accent. The age of the person makes no difference. These jerks should be taken off the streets. Ignoring them is not the answer.
stirfry at 09:41 PM JST - 6th November

probably white-handed
ca1ic0cat at 10:04 PM JST - 6th November

Hung by his own petard, as it were...stupid git. Got what he deserved.
Ke11iente at 11:29 PM JST - 6th November

How is this any different than the old men who routinely pee on the side of the street in broad daylight without even bothering to go behind a bush?
Reiner at 11:56 PM JST - 6th November

> Me too. I have seen this before, and although it was nothing I havent seen before it does give you a shock, and I am glad my kids didnt see. >

I haven't seen ANYTHING like this before... (I hope I won't ever have to...) Honestly... people should try to preserve innocence and dignity in the world! Eek... I can't believe someone would do that... though... you do have to admire the fact that he has the guts to do something like that... (then again, if it's stupidity, it should be something to steer clear from...)

Erk... I'm rambling again...

Bottom line... PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE SOME DECENCY!
WilliB at 12:17 AM JST - 7th November

Keiinte:

" How is this any different than the old men who routinely pee on the side of the street "

Just to point out the obvious: They don´t pee towards the street, they point their (clothed) behinds to the street and flash a tree or a wall. If old Tatsuo had done that, he´d be OK too.
fleetwood77 at 01:03 AM JST - 7th November

Beware of the naked man
sharky1 at 02:34 AM JST - 7th November

He'll probably get off for lack of evidence.