A U.S. sailor was indicted Tuesday for stealing a car in December in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, that was involved a short time later in a hit-and-run in which a police officer was injured.
Brandon Jackson, a 21-year-old crew member from the amphibious assault ship Essex, was detained in line with the Status of Forces Agreement. Japanese prosecutors said they will continue to investigate his possible link with the hit-and-run.
The U.S. Navy released a statement saying it "has fully cooperated with Japanese authorities since this incident occurred" and that those who break Japanese laws are "subject to our host nation's legal system."
According to the indictment, Jackson stole the car in Sasebo at around 4:30 a.m. Dec. 7, about 45 minutes before the hit-and-run occurred at a police checkpoint.