Suspect who escaped from police station while cop slept turns himself in

Wednesday 22nd April, 02:08 AM JST

HYOGO —

A 32-year-old man, who was arrested for theft on Monday afternoon, escaped from Nishinomiya police station after the 19-year-old police officer watching him in the questioning room dozed off.

Police mobilized about 170 officers to find Takami Yonezawa, an unemployed resident of Osaka City, but he turned himself in on Tuesday at around 1 p.m., accompanied by a lawyer. He denied the allegation of theft, and did not elaborate on why he ran out of the police station nor why he turned himself in.

Police said Yonezawa was arrested Monday afternoon on suspicion of theft, accused of stealing a bag from a parked car in Nishinomiya City at around 3 a.m. that morning. He was taken to Nishinomiya police station where a 34-year-old sergeant and a 19-year-old constable started questioning him at around 3.30 p.m.

About half an hour later, the sergeant left the room for 10 minutes to print out some documents, during which time the constable fell asleep. Yonezawa was not handcuffed while in the room, but was bound to the chair he was sitting in by a rope. He was able to free himself from that, left the room, and managed to leave the police station without being seen.

Police said the 19-year-old constable had graduated from the academy in January, after which he was dispatched to Nishinomiya police station. This month, he has been undergoing training in criminal procedures. As to why he fell asleep, the constable said he was tired, and along with the sergeant may be subject to disciplinary measures.

Chiaki Yoneda, chief of the police station, said there was no procedural issue with arresting Yonezawa twice for the same alleged theft, and said he was disappointed his officers had created unease among the public.

News reports

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Latest 15 of 47 Total Comments Show All

sensei258 at 07:59 PM JST - 22nd April

Potsu -"They mobilized 170 men to get a thief ??" Not because of the level of the crime, but because of the embarrassment to the police:-)
bampaku at 08:27 PM JST - 22nd April

"Why did you fall asleep?"

"Because I was tired."

"Oh... OK."
memyselfI at 08:39 PM JST - 22nd April

WHAT kind of rope torture where they going to use ?
ca1ic0cat at 08:40 PM JST - 22nd April

This poor slob was probably told to turn himself in by his family.
memyselfI at 08:40 PM JST - 22nd April

Why were they using rope ? An S&M thing ?
likeitis at 08:44 PM JST - 22nd April

Why were they using rope ? An S&M thing ?

Do you imagine that no one has escaped when handcuffs were used?

Usually when I see cops with a suspect or prisoner, they have a rope attached to him like a leash. Seems smart to me. Even a handcuffed guy cant get away from you, but no solution is perfect.

But, yes, I think it is an S&M thing too frankly. But its has good points. For example, its cost effective.
sharky1 at 09:19 PM JST - 22nd April

The guy left because he couldn't take the torture of boredom in the interrogation room. Even the officer watching him fell victim to the intense level of boredom, and was finally overtaken. Worse than water-boarding. I think that being tied up with rope in a law enforcement facility is a crime of some sort. This whole thing is just too funny for words. Send the police officers to seaman school so they can learn to tie knots!
jalways at 10:12 PM JST - 22nd April

You have to love japan and the stupidity.
medievaltimes at 11:22 PM JST - 22nd April

Thanks for the laugh JT.
uperjer at 12:04 AM JST - 23rd April

keystone cops.
mindovermatter at 12:46 AM JST - 24th April

but was bound to the chair he was sitting in by a rope.

Unbelievable....?

Bound by a rope....?

Is this a misprint...?

WTF....?

These cops should be arrested for being idiots, and for their conduct...?

They teach this at the Japanese police academy...? WTF...?
DentShop at 01:26 AM JST - 24th April

"Hey what happened?"

"Huh, uh what do you mean?

"The prisoner. He is gone..."

"What? Him? Etoo... He is running a leg of the Police Eki-Den. Yes, thats right..."

"Very good. One day I will run in an Eki-Den"

"Zzzzzz"
tasha77 at 10:33 AM JST - 24th April

The young pup was too tired from walking the streets checking bicycles.
shiuu at 09:06 AM JST - 25th April

I really think JT should provide an audio link to yakety sax music to accompany stories about Japanese police ...
mnemosyne23 at 09:40 PM JST - 28th April

Police mobilized about 170 officers to find Takami Yonezawa

170 OFFICERS?! For an unemployed guy who's SUSPECTED of stealing ONE bag left in somebody's car at three in the morning? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? No theft is allowable under law, and if he's guilty then justice should be meted out accordingly. But seriously -- 170 officers? ARE. YOU. KIDDING. ME?

And best of all -- THEY DIDN'T EVEN FIND HIM. He turned HIMSELF in.

Wow. Just... You have to laugh, or you'll break down and CRY at the incompetence.