U.S. to discuss arrest procedure

NAHA, Okinawa Pref. (Kyodo) The U.S. consul general in Okinawa said Monday the United States is ready to discuss with Japan which country has the authority to arrest U.S. military-related people when illegal acts are detected during joint police patrols, which have been proposed by Japan.

"If there are points that are not clear over the question of which side will make arrests, I think that can be made clear in talks of the Joint Committee (between both countries)," Kevin Maher said in an interview after a series of alleged crimes involving U.S. servicemen in the prefecture.

Maher made the comments at a time when the Okinawa police have shown reluctance over the Japanese government's proposal for the Japanese police and U.S. military police to conduct joint patrols in such places as entertainment districts near U.S. bases.

The proposal was made last month as part of preventive measures against incidents involving U.S. service personnel in the wake of an alleged rape of a local girl by a marine in Okinawa.

The prefectural force has stopped short of accepting it, saying it remains unclear which country has the authority to detain criminal suspects. Under the Status of Forces Agreement, the power of the Japanese police is limited in dealing with allegations involving U.S. military-related people even off U.S. bases.

NAHA, Okinawa Pref. (Kyodo) Police have arrested a U.S. Air Force airman on suspicion of trespassing in a private office Sunday in Okinawa.

Airman 2nd Class Wesley Taft of Kadena Air Base has admitted to the crime, police said.

Taft apparently went out despite a curfew imposed on all U.S. military and civilian personnel in the prefecture since Feb. 20 following the alleged rape of a local junior high school girl by a U.S. Marine, charges against whom were dropped last week.

Taft is suspected of breaking the glass door of an office of the Okinawa Contractors Association in the city of Okinawa and entering the office at around 6:40 a.m. Sunday.

A security guard who arrived at the office after the alarm was triggered called police. Taft, holding a steel pipe, was arrested around 200 meters from the office about an hour later.

Taft's breath smelled of alcohol and he told police that he had crawled through the fence of Camp Shields.

The office is located near the fence.

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said Monday he will urge the U.S. military to do more to prevent their troops from breaking the law in Japan following the arrest of a U.S. Air Force serviceman while an all-day curfew was in place in Okinawa Prefecture.

"I gather the U.S. military is making considerable efforts, but it happened under such circumstances," Fukuda told reporters. "I will tell the U.S. military that we would like more meticulous measures to be taken."

Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura and Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima also expressed regret over the incident.