Man arrested after using stun gun on police officer in Gunma

Wednesday 06th May, 09:10 AM JST

GUNMA —

Police said Tuesday that a 47-year-old man was arrested for assault and interfering with an officer in the line of duty on Monday night, after he used a stun gun on an officer who was questioning him about his car.

Police said they discovered a vehicle with a stolen license plate in a pachinko parlor car park in Isesaki City at around 8.30 p.m. Monday. Officers from Isesaki police station and a prefectural SWAT team lay in wait for someone to approach the vehicle.

Just after 10 p.m., a car pulled into the car park, and a man got out and approached the vehicle with the stolen license plate. A 51-year-old sergeant approached the man and began talking to him, but the man put the stun gun to the sergeant’s right hand, inflicting minor injuries.

The suspect, who was arrested on the spot, was identified as Hiromi Sasaki, a bar manager in Yokohama. However, the car Sasaki got out of sped off, police said.

Sasaki was quoted as saying: “I didn’t want to get caught, so I attacked him.”

News reports

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Latest 15 of 29 Total Comments Show All

mrhog123 at 04:52 PM JST - 6th May

Did the cop who got hit with a stun gun dance the jig?
Badge213 at 06:54 PM JST - 6th May

I guess the Japanese Police have yet to discover spike-strips...

Yes if Police anywhere were always prepared with spike strips we'll never have cool tv shows like "World Scariest Police Chases".
MeanRingo at 08:37 PM JST - 6th May

I agree with likesitself too. A pursuit would have been brutal. Don't you all remember the Osaka car chase? One crim against something like 4000 police officers in over 800 vehicles. Chasing this guy for a set of stolen plates would have been devastating to the ecology of Japan with all those carbon fuels being burned up, when all they need to do is follow the trail of the license plate. Now, they did get the plate didn't they? No?
likeitis at 09:12 PM JST - 6th May

MeanRingo: Now, they did get the plate didn't they? No?

I wonder about that myself. But then, what if those plates were stolen as well?
hoserfella at 10:48 PM JST - 6th May

Again. likeitis confusedly wondering aloud with zero authority, info, or grasp of the situation, yet going on like he's just watched a "Matlock" marathon. 'tis funny, though...
dontpanic at 11:08 PM JST - 6th May

This is no joke, the copper was interfered with, he's probably scarred for life.
yawmin at 01:55 AM JST - 7th May

nobody wants to get caught, but after the fact in the US you would been laid out with many holes like swiss cheese. I see cops shoot people for moving their hand funny. i think japan is a criminal's paradise as far as lieneancy(sp).
ca1ic0cat at 02:46 AM JST - 7th May

Where did this guy get a stun gun, of all things? Aren't they banned?
biglittleman at 08:24 AM JST - 7th May

Where did this guy get a stun gun, of all things? Aren't they banned?

Probably, Akihabara or any Don Quixote. Banned is a relative term.
likeitis at 12:52 PM JST - 7th May

hoserfella: Again. likeitis confusedly wondering aloud with zero authority, info, or grasp of the situation, yet going on like he's just watched a "Matlock" marathon. 'tis funny, though...

Care to comment on the topic? Show us how not confused you are and how authoritive, and how you have a firm grasp of the situation.

Show us some courage, and tell us what you think about the topic. Your little feelings toward me are obvious to everyone by this time.
elbudamexicano at 02:41 PM JST - 7th May

Japan has no SWAT teams? They may call it by another name but believe you me, when the prime minister, or the Imperial family etc..go out, they have sharp shooters everywhere, just in case.
hoserfella at 10:11 PM JST - 7th May

Hmmm, lets see. With so little info available,I really don't know enough about this incident to start pontificating. So rather than bore people with silly "what-ifs", Ill hold my tongue.
nigelboy at 09:44 AM JST - 8th May

Japan has no SWAT teams? They may call it by another name but believe you me, when the prime minister, or the Imperial family etc..go out, they have sharp shooters everywhere, just in case.

You're partly correct. Japan does have similar special unit under the different name but they were not utilized in this incident.
mindovermatter at 10:42 AM JST - 8th May

Oh, I'm sorry... This is Good JN Police work...?

Wow... I'd hate to see bad.... God help us...
likeitis at 03:36 PM JST - 8th May

hoserfella: Hmmm, lets see. With so little info available,I really don't know enough about this incident to start pontificating. So rather than bore people with silly "what-ifs", Ill hold my tongue.

Welcome to JT. With that attitude, you should be holding your tongue A LOT. They don't even give us pictures most of the time. And details? You are funny mister! Its all guesswork, but at least my posts tend to admit that.