U.S. Air Force captain arrested in Okinawa for alleged drunk driving

Japanese police arrested a U.S. Air Force captain Saturday on suspicion of drunk driving in Okinawa, a police spokesman said, in the latest twist to strains between the Pacific allies.

The arrest comes just a week after Tokyo and Washington agreed to measures aimed at preventing crimes by U.S. service members on the island of Okinawa after a murder allegedly involving an American Marine triggered outrage.

The U.S. military has around 54,000 personnel stationed in Japan, mostly on Okinawa. Crimes committed by its members have been a thorn in relations between the close security allies.

U.S. officials also said last week they would extend a curfew to lower-ranking service members through Dec. 7, while banning all service members from drinking alcohol outside their homes between midnight and 5 am.

Police arrested the 27-year-old as he “was driving on a road in Okinawa City at around 3:09 am Saturday,” a spokesman for Okinawa prefectural police said.

“It is not clear if he violated the curfew” imposed by U.S. officials, he said.

The arrested captain was assigned to Kadena Air Base on Okinawa, Kyodo News reported.

Officials at the base were not immediately available for comment.