Prosecutors are probing former sumo star Konishiki for allegedly assaulting a neighbor during a dispute over dog droppings, police in Tokyo's Sumida Ward said Wednesday.
The 47-year-old former ozeki allegedly shoved the man, who is in his 30s, on Nov. 12, investigators said. The man was not injured.
The incident occurred when the Hawaiian-born Konishiki, now a TV celebrity, and his wife were out walking their dog. The man approached them and complained to Konishiki's wife that they had let their dog defecate on the premises of an apartment building.
Konishiki's wife responded that their dog was not to blame, but the former grappler, who at his peak reportedly weighed 287 kg, waded in and shoved the man, who then called the police.
"I did it to protect my wife," Konishiki reportedly told the police.