MITO, Ibaraki Pref. (Kyodo) A police sergeant was arrested Friday on suspicion of beating a man who had warned him against smoking on a train in Ibaraki Prefecture, police said, adding he regrets his actions.
Hideo Kuwahara, 50, was smoking on the deck between cars on a JR Joban Line limited express train Thursday evening when a 56-year-old office worker complained to him about smoking in what is a designated nonsmoking area, according to police.
The two men got off at Ushiku Station, where Kuwahara allegedly punched the office worker in the face several times, police said. He sustained minor injuries.