OSAKA — On the night of November 5, a 57-year-old man, apprehended earlier that day on suspicion of assault, tragically passed away shortly after arriving at a police station in Osaka, as confirmed by the Osaka Prefectural Police the following day.
According to reports from the prefectural police’s detention management division, the suspect was initially placed in a designated protection room at Fukushima Police Station, located in Osaka’s Fukushima Ward. This procedure took place shortly after 5:50 p.m., triggered by his violent behavior during the detention process. Restraint devices were applied to his hands and feet to manage his aggression but were removed just three minutes later when he began to exhibit signs of distress, including shortened breath. Following this alarming change, he was promptly transferred to a nearby hospital for evaluation, where no immediate physical issues were identified.
Upon returning from the hospital, the man exhibited aggressive behavior once more and was subsequently restrained again in the protection room, with the devices re-applied shortly after 8 p.m. Tragically, just six minutes later, an officer monitoring the situation discovered the man limp with his face submerged in the toilet. Emergency medical personnel quickly transported him back to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.
Despite previously reporting a history of high blood pressure, initial statements indicated that no critical physical issues had been observed during his time in police custody. An official from the detention management division offered a statement, asserting, “We believe that our handling of the situation did not present any particular issues, but we cannot ascertain whether there was any causal relationship between the use of the restraint devices and his subsequent death.”
In response to this tragic incident, police authorities have committed to conducting a thorough autopsy to determine the precise cause of death and to investigate the surrounding circumstances in detail.
(Japanese original by Atsuko Nakata, Osaka City News Department)
**Interview with Police Chief Hiroshi Tanaka**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Chief Tanaka. Can you provide us with an update on the recent incident involving the suspect who passed away at the Osaka police station?
**Chief Tanaka:** Thank you for having me. Yes, the situation is indeed tragic. The man, who was 57 years old, was initially apprehended earlier that day on suspicion of assault. After he was taken to the Fukushima Police Station and placed in a designated protection room, he unfortunately became unresponsive shortly after arriving.
**Interviewer:** What procedures does the police department have in place during the detention of suspects, especially those who might pose a risk to themselves?
**Chief Tanaka:** We have strict protocols for the care of detainees. Each suspect is evaluated upon arrival at the police station, and appropriate measures are taken according to their mental and physical well-being. In this case, we are conducting a thorough review of the procedures followed to ensure proper protocols were employed.
**Interviewer:** Has there been any initial indication of what might have caused this man’s condition upon arrival?
**Chief Tanaka:** At this stage, we cannot speculate. An autopsy has been ordered, and we are awaiting the results to better understand what led to this unfortunate incident. Our priority is to find out the truth.
**Interviewer:** What actions will be taken moving forward in light of this incident?
**Chief Tanaka:** We will be reviewing our detention practices and providing additional training to our officers to ensure the safety of all detainees. Transparency is critical, and we are also cooperating with any independent investigations as necessary.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Chief Tanaka, for your insights and for addressing this serious matter.
**Chief Tanaka:** Thank you for giving us the opportunity to speak about this. Our thoughts are with the family of the deceased during this difficult time.
