A U.S. Marine was arrested on Okinawa over the weekend after he allegedly punched a police officer in the face, requiring five stitches. (Pixabay)
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — Japanese police arrested a Marine over the weekend on suspicion of punching an officer in the face near a popular nightlife area on Okinawa.
Cpl. Addison Moss, 21, assigned to Camp Foster, was arrested shortly after the incident at 1:39 a.m. Sunday in the Uechi neighborhood of Okinawa city, a prefectural police spokesman said by phone Monday.
The officer involved tried to question Moss in relation to a disturbance call, the spokesman said.
The incident happened a short distance from Kadena Air Base’s Gate 2, an area of bars and restaurants that cater to U.S. service members.
Moss was still being held at Okinawa police station on Monday, according to the spokesman. Some government officials in Japan may speak to the media only on condition of anonymity.
Area residents called police early Sunday to report that foreigners were “banging on the door” of their home, an Okinawa police station spokesman said by phone Monday. When police arrived, they noticed Moss acting suspiciously, the spokesman said.
The spokesman declined to say whether Moss was a suspect in the disturbance.
The Okinawa police spokesman said the officer, in his 20s, attempted to question Moss when Moss punched him, opening a wound on the officer’s left eyelid.
The officer arrested Moss before heading to an area hospital where he received five stitches to close the wound, the spokesman said.
The Marine appeared to be drunk at the time of his arrest, the spokesman said. A Breathalyzer detected alcohol in Moss; however, the spokesman declined to provide the reading.
Police planned to forward charges of obstructing police and assault to prosecutors later Monday, the spokesman said.
Moss is an air delivery specialist with 3rd Landing Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group spokesman Capt. Brett Vannier said by email Monday. The alleged misconduct is not “aligned with our core values,” he added.
