August 14, 2012

The Sawara Police Station of the Fukuoka Prefectural Police on August 12 arrested two U.S. servicemen on suspicion of stealing a car in Fukuoka City.

The arrested men are crew members of the USS Denver assigned to the U.S. Sasebo Naval Base in Nagasaki Prefecture, Whit J. Anthony and an unnamed 19-year-old sailor. The two sailors contested the charge, according to the police.

On the night of August 11, the two servicemen allegedly stole a car which was parked at a seaside park in Fukuoka City, with its key stuck in the lock.

According to the police, the car owner, who keeps a marine sporting goods shop in the park, had parked his car in front of the shop while doing the clean-up in the store.

Alcohol level exceeding the legal limit was detected in Anthony’s exhalation test.