Okayama childcare worker, 33, arrested on suspicion of assaulting boy at his workplace
In short
Police in Okayama on 9 October arrested a 33-year-old childcare worker on suspicion of assaulting a boy at a licensed childcare facility in the city's Minami Ward. Police say that at about 1:30 pm on 7 October, during nap time, he grabbed the boy's clothes, pushed him to the floor and pressed his neck down with his hand. He denies the allegation, saying it was "within the range of what is permitted for a childcare worker."
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Police in Okayama on 9 October arrested a 33-year-old childcare worker on suspicion of assaulting a boy at the childcare facility in the city's Minami Ward where he works. Nippon TV News and the Sankei Shimbun named him as Tetsuya Takatori (鷹取哲哉), a resident of Urayasu Nishimachi in Minami Ward. TBS NEWS DIG and the Sankei Shimbun reported that the arrest was made by Okayama Prefectural Police. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
According to police, at about 1:30 pm on 7 October, at a licensed childcare facility, he grabbed the boy's clothes and pulled them, pushed him to the floor and pressed his neck down with his hand. Livedoor News described the facility as licensed by the city. It was nap time at the facility, and Livedoor News reported that about 20 children, including the boy, were in the room. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Police said he denied the allegation, telling investigators that it was "within the range of what is permitted for a childcare worker." [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
The case came to light when the boy's mother consulted police on 8 October; the Sankei Shimbun reported she had done so after hearing from the child. Nippon TV News reported that police identified the suspect from the facility's security camera footage, among other material, and arrested him on the morning of 9 October. Police plan to investigate his detailed motive and whether there were other offences, Nippon TV News reported. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Reports differ on the boy's condition. Livedoor News reported that it was not known whether he was injured and that his mother had taken him to hospital. The Sankei Shimbun reported that he had no visible injuries. [ 1 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The case concerns alleged physical force used on a child by a staff member at a licensed childcare facility during nap time. Police plan to investigate his motive and whether there were other offences, Nippon TV News reported.
Key facts
- A 33-year-old childcare worker was arrested on 9 October on suspicion of assault. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Nippon TV News and the Sankei Shimbun named him as Tetsuya Takatori (鷹取哲哉), of Urayasu Nishimachi, Minami Ward, Okayama. [ 3 , 4 ]
- The alleged assault took place at about 1:30 pm on 7 October at the licensed childcare facility in Okayama's Minami Ward where he worked. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Police allege he grabbed and pulled the boy's clothes and pressed his neck with his hand; three outlets say he also pushed the boy to the floor. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- It was nap time, and about 20 children, including the boy, were in the room, Livedoor News reported. [ 1 , 4 ]
- He denies the allegation, saying it was "within the range of what is permitted for a childcare worker." [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Police acted after the boy's mother consulted them on 8 October. [ 1 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A 33-year-old childcare worker was arrested on 9 October on suspicion of assaulting a boy at a childcare facility in Okayama's Minami Ward. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The suspect is Tetsuya Takatori (鷹取哲哉), of Urayasu Nishimachi, Minami Ward, Okayama. [ 3 , 4 ]
- The alleged assault took place at about 1:30 pm on 7 October and included pressing the boy's neck down with his hand. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- It was nap time at the facility when the incident took place. [ 1 , 4 ]
- He denies the allegation, saying it was within the range of what is permitted for a childcare worker. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- The case came to light after the boy's mother consulted police. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the boy was injured. Livedoor News reported it was not known whether he was injured and that his mother took him to hospital; the Sankei Shimbun reported he had no visible injuries.
- The suspect's motive and whether there were other offences. Nippon TV News reported police plan to investigate these; no findings have been reported.
- How police identified the suspect. Only Nippon TV News reported that police used the facility's security camera footage, among other material.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- 7 October: the alleged assault takes place at the childcare facility during nap time, according to police. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- 9 October: Livedoor News reports the arrest of the 33-year-old childcare worker. [ 1 ]
- 9 October: Nippon TV News names the suspect and reports police identified him using security camera footage. [ 3 ]
- 9 October: the Sankei Shimbun reports the boy had no visible injuries. [ 4 ]