Policeman fires two shots during brawl with foreigners in Mie

Monday 02nd November, 09:44 AM JST

MIE —

A 46-year-old police officer fired warning shots after he was hit in the head with his own baton during a brawl with three men in Suzuka, Mie Prefecture, early Sunday morning. The officer was dispatched along with a 25-year-old colleague after police received a call around 5 a.m. reporting a fight between foreigners.

When they arrived, the two officers found one man crouching down on the ground and a group of about 20 men, all appearing to be foreigners, standing nearby, they said. While the younger officer went to help the fallen man, the other policeman attempted to get statements from the group. One man attempted to run, and when the officer pursued him, he found himself surrounded by three men, one of whom stole his baton and hit him on the head.

The officer fired two shots above the men’s heads and the three assailants fled with the baton. The officer sustained minor head injuries.

The scuffle occurred in a neighborhood with residential properties and factories. Regarding the firing of the weapon, Suzuka Chief of Police Mamoru Kuratani said, “We believe the officer took the correct course of action given the situation.”

Police believe all three men were foreign, two of whom were about 160 cm and 175 cm tall and wearing T-shirts. They are searching for the men and will pursue charges of assault and interfering with a police officer in the line of duty.

Wire reports

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Latest 15 of 85 Total Comments Show All

numbskull at 09:59 PM JST - 3rd November

mindovermatter: Thank you, you just proved my point, the only countries that still use warning shots are those in war zones AND THIRD-WORLD countries...

No sir, I did not. You obviously failed to read my links. And if you would bother to research it, you would find that your statement is incorrect. Find a search engine and type in "warning shot police" and the country of your choice.

Moderator: Please keep the discussion focused on Japan and this incident, not other countries.
nigelboy at 11:38 PM JST - 3rd November

It's obvious that you have not a clue, what you talking about

It's quite obvious you can't buy a clue because you have yet to offer an alternative method when being attacked by three men. But bear in mind that you have already stated that shooting the attacker was not an option for "Civilized countries".

And only police, lacking complete common-sense and or proper training, respond to a 20 person brawl, with two cops on bicycles.... Ridiculous......

Read the other sources. The officers were able to diffuse the situation and was in a process of asking questions to those who were involved. It wasn't 20 person brawl. One tried to run away and that's when the incident took place.

As with your Akihabara incident, you have absolutely no clue as to when the victims were stabbed and when the police arrived at the scene. I'd suggest you stop talking about common sense when you yourself can't even get the story right.
TheQuestion at 03:10 AM JST - 4th November

It's quite obvious you can't buy a clue because you have yet to offer an alternative method when being attacked by three men. But bear in mind that you have already stated that shooting the attacker was not an option for "Civilized countries".

Here's a few that the cops in my neck of the woods deploy; backup, pepper spray, tazer, stun gun. Firearms are deadly force only, between the ricochet and the environment a couple of, quite literally, aimless rounds can cause more harm than good.
nigelboy at 03:51 AM JST - 4th November

Here's a few that the cops in my neck of the woods deploy; backup, pepper spray, tazer, stun gun.

Firearms are deadly force only, between the ricochet and the environment a couple of, quite literally, aimless rounds can cause more harm than good.

Hmm. "back up". What makes you so sure that the police officer in question didn't ask for a backup when he started chasing one of the accomplice or during which time he was being attacked by three men?

"pepper spray, tazer, stun gun."

What makes you so sure that the policeman was equipped with those?

"Firearms are deadly force only, between the ricochet and the environment a couple of, quite literally, aimless rounds can cause more harm than good."

To me, it sounds like it would of been satisfactory if the policeman actually shot the assailants which I totally agree with. However, given the climate the police here are faced with which I alluded to earlier, I can see the justification behind shooting off warning shot to scare them off.
TheQuestion at 09:24 AM JST - 4th November

What makes you so sure that the police officer in question didn't ask for a backup when he started chasing one of the accomplice or during which time he was being attacked by three men?

I'm just going by what the artical says, and there is no mention of a backup request at all.

What makes you so sure that the policeman was equipped with those?

You asked what options an officer in a 'civilized country' would have at their disposal. If their department didn't have the soundness of mind to equip their officers with what is considered basic equipment in other countries that really isn't my problem.

To me, it sounds like it would of been satisfactory if the policeman actually shot the assailants which I totally agree with. However, given the climate the police here are faced with which I alluded to earlier, I can see the justification behind shooting off warning shot to scare them off.

Unless the officer believed that his or anothers life was in present and immediate danger no I do not believe they should have been shot. You seem to be operating under the impression that if a bullet is not fired directly at someone it looses all lethality. The round has to go somewhere and if you don't know exactly where it's gone that's just irresponcible. Heck, even my nephews knows not to pull stupid stuff like that.
numbskull at 12:36 PM JST - 4th November

Unless the officer believed that his or anothers life was in present and immediate danger no I do not believe they should have been shot.

So, how many clubs over the head would you consider to be having one's life in danger?
couversaka at 08:51 PM JST - 4th November

It is never appropriate to fire a "warning shot" inside of a city. The "golden rule" of defensive firearms usage is to draw only when you must shoot, and shoot only when you must kill, and therefore, only draw if you must shoot and kill.

It is staggeringly irresponsible to send bullets out on a parabolic arc into the air, from which they can retain a lethal velocity as they return to the ground. An extreme example would be a country like Iraq, where over a dozen people were killed by "celebratory gunfire" after the capture of Saddam Hussein. This is mainly because of simple physics. If you fire a bullet directly vertically, it can return safely to the ground at a nonlethal velocity. But if you vary even slightly from true vertical, your round remains deadly, even kilometers away.

You are supposed to fire into a suitable backstop. And in the case of a defensive use of firearms, that means someone's skull or centre mass.

'Warning shots' are only appropriate if blank cartridges (cartridges without bullets) are being used.
TheQuestion at 11:04 PM JST - 4th November

So, how many clubs over the head would you consider to be having one's life in danger?

I don't know how I can make this any clearer. If you believe your life is in danger you shoot to kill, thats it, cut and dry, clear as crystal. If you aren't willing to kill something with your shots than you should not fire them off.
Badsey at 01:06 AM JST - 5th November

You always shoot first and ask questions later -Way to many Police Officers being killed in the line of duty these days. -And they have the right to shoot you.

A Police officer has the rights of a civilian and a police officer. No way any Police officer needs to put up with this sort of crap. If an officer is down they all come running.

Control over the populace must be maintained.

I would have shot him in the knee and dragged him in for questioning. Then go after the rest (phone records, video footage, etc.) =No way I would put my life on the line for a thug
nigelboy at 02:03 AM JST - 5th November

You asked what options an officer in a 'civilized country' would have at their disposal. If their department didn't have the soundness of mind to equip their officers with what is considered basic equipment in other countries that really isn't my problem

The usage of pepper/tazer/stun among the law enforcement has been debated over the recent years due to "unncessary" fatalities by different groups. Because of this, some counties/states don't require their officers to carry them. Hence, I wouldn't even consider it to be "basic" equipment at all.

You seem to be operating under the impression that if a bullet is not fired directly at someone it looses all lethality.

No. I'm not dismissing the fact it could potentially harm someone but I'm also aware that any gun shots that are fired could potentially miss the target and could very well again potentially harm another person. However, does that mean that police force shouldn't carry handguns at all based on that possibility? It's like stating that police car shouldn't chase suspect's vehicle in any situation because it may involve innocent bystandards.
numbskull at 05:59 PM JST - 5th November

TheQuestion : If you believe your life is in danger you shoot to kill, thats it, cut and dry, clear as crystal. If you aren't willing to kill something with your shots than you should not fire them off.

I seriously have no problem with the officer shooting the guy who hit him on the head...if that were the only variable to consider. Its not. There was a crowd. The odds of hitting an innocent bystander was actually greater for shooting flat at a person with intent to kill. Not only a miss but also a hit that passes through could be a bigger problem than a bullet in the air. The warning shot was the safest option. Part of the proof is that no one died.

Another thing to consider is that the officer was surrounded by three men. You cannot taser three men at a time. Pepper spray will be hard to apply in such a case.

It seems to me the officer chose the best of a lot of bad options.
mindovermatter at 11:27 AM JST - 6th November

I seriously have no problem with the officer shooting the guy who hit him on the head...if that were the only variable to consider. Its not. There was a crowd. The odds of hitting an innocent bystander was actually greater for shooting flat at a person with intent to kill. Not only a miss but also a hit that passes through could be a bigger problem than a bullet in the air. The warning shot was the safest option. Part of the proof is that no one died. Another thing to consider is that the officer was surrounded by three men. You cannot taser three men at a time. Pepper spray will be hard to apply in such a case. It seems to me the officer chose the best of a lot of bad options.

This is crazy... What-ever...

There's an old proverb, "Never argue with a fool." And you've certainly proved why that's so true, Thank You!

And only by the grace of god, no body was injured, killed or maimed by these idiots discharging firearms into the air, in a residential area. Thank God no one was injured, except maybe the pride of these very poorly-trained J-Clown-Cops.
combinibento at 11:43 AM JST - 6th November

I seriously have no problem with the officer shooting the guy who hit him on the head...

Not sure what the self-defense laws are here in Japan but where I'm from it is justifiable homicide and thus legally permitted for anyone - not just cops - to shoot a person who is attacked you with a baton such that you reasonably fear for your life. Of course if you get hit once very lightly and the attacker immediately flees that is another story...
numbskull at 11:00 AM JST - 7th November

This is crazy... What-ever...

You are surrounded by three men, all in motion and ready for action. One has stolen your baton and hit you over the head with it. There is a crowd of 20 nearby. What do you do? Go ahead and take your time sorting it out. The officer had mere seconds to make a decision.

I see your idealism and raise you several realities. Call it crazy and I assume you fold.
honey at 02:16 PM JST - 7th November

There isnt much thats real about this country,however guns and stray bullets are.Enjoy the strong yen and cheap booze!