Hokkaido police sergeant arrested on suspicion of choking his wife in Sapporo
In short
A sergeant with Hokkaido Prefectural Police based at Sapporo's Shiroishi police station has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting his wife. TBS NEWS DIG identified him as Hayato Midorikawa (緑川隼人), 29, and reported that he is suspected of wrapping his arm around his wife, in her 20s, from behind and choking her at their home in Sapporo's Teine Ward on the night of September 6. He was arrested on the night of October 7, it reported.
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A sergeant with Hokkaido Prefectural Police who works at the Shiroishi police station in Sapporo has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting his wife, according to reports by Sankei Shimbun, Nishi-Nippon Shimbun, Tokyo Shimbun and TBS NEWS DIG. Sankei Shimbun and TBS NEWS DIG reported that the alleged assault involved choking her by the neck. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
TBS NEWS DIG identified the officer as Hayato Midorikawa (緑川隼人), 29, a sergeant in the Shiroishi station's community affairs section. It reported that he is suspected of wrapping his arm around his wife, who is in her 20s, from behind and choking her at their home in Sapporo's Teine Ward on the night of September 6, and that he was arrested on the night of October 7. The broadcaster's headline likened the hold to a professional wrestling "sleeper hold" and quoted the words "I was angry at her attitude". [ 4 ]
Why it matters
The suspect is a serving police officer, which Japanese national and regional outlets highlighted in their coverage. The case concerns alleged domestic violence by a member of the Hokkaido police.
Key facts
- A Hokkaido Prefectural Police sergeant was arrested on suspicion of assaulting his wife. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The sergeant works at the Shiroishi police station in Sapporo. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG named him as Hayato Midorikawa (緑川隼人), 29, of the station's community affairs section. [ 4 ]
- He is suspected of wrapping his arm around his wife, in her 20s, from behind and choking her on the night of September 6. [ 4 ]
- The alleged assault took place at the couple's home in Sapporo's Teine Ward. [ 4 ]
- He was arrested on the night of October 7, according to TBS NEWS DIG. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether the suspect has admitted the allegation. TBS NEWS DIG's headline carries the quote "I was angry at her attitude", but none of the documents states who said it or reports the suspect's response to the charge.
- The suspect's name, age, the date and the location of the alleged assault. These details come from a single outlet, TBS NEWS DIG; the other outlets published headlines only.
- Whether the wife was injured. None of the documents reports on injuries.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Sankei Shimbun reports that a Hokkaido police sergeant at Sapporo's Shiroishi station was arrested on suspicion of choking and assaulting his wife (October 8). [ 1 ]
- Nishi-Nippon Shimbun reports the sergeant's arrest on suspicion of assaulting his wife. [ 2 ]
- Tokyo Shimbun reports the arrest. [ 3 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG names the officer as Hayato Midorikawa, 29, and says the alleged assault took place on the night of September 6 and he was arrested on the night of October 7. [ 4 ]