Chiba cop molests woman looking for help in stalking case

CHIBA -- A police officer faces charges for molesting a woman who came looking for help with a stalker, prefectural police said.

Chiba Prefectural Police has sent an investigation document to prosecutors accusing the officer, 33-year-old Yoshitaka Miura, of violence and cruelty as a special public officer. He is currently not under arrest.

He resigned Friday after being slapped with a six-month suspension from duty. He admitted to the allegations during questioning, investigators said.

The prefectural police inspection office justified its decision not to arrest him.

"It was unnecessary to arrest him, since there are no concerns that he will abscond or destroy evidence," said. Hideo Okada, a senior official of the prefectural police inspection office. "We'll step up discipline amongst officers to prevent a recurrence."

The incident occurred on July 3, the force's inspection office said. At about 2:30 p.m., the victim visited a police box in Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture, where Miura was working, and told him she was being stalked and defrauded.

Later that day, Miura went to her apartment in uniform, and fondled her breasts during his one-hour visit.

October 27, 2007