Overview
- A 38-year-old traffic-division sergeant at Yurihonjo Police Station was arrested on November 6 on suspicion of violating the Road Traffic Act for driving while intoxicated.
- Police say the officer crashed a single vehicle on a prefectural road in Yurihonjo on October 30, hit poles and a guard pipe, was taken to hospital with no external injuries, and was discharged the next day.
- A breath test detected 0.5 milligrams or more of alcohol per liter of exhaled air, and the suspect has admitted driving while intoxicated and expressed remorse to family and colleagues.
- Authorities initially treated the case as a voluntary investigation because a doctor advised a week of rest, but they arrested the sergeant after his condition improved and they judged detention necessary.
- Akita Prefectural Police say they will carry out a strict investigation, determine legal violations and background, and impose disciplinary measures based on the probe, a development that could affect public trust in traffic enforcement.