Employee at Chiba disability facility arrested on suspicion of assault after striking resident

From The Chiba Nippo via Yahoo! Japan

October 5 2026

CHIBA – On October 1, the Kisarazu Police Station announced the arrest of a 40-year-old male organization employee living in Kisarazu City on suspicion of assault, after he allegedly assaulted a resident at a support facility for people with disabilities in Sodegaura City, including knocking him over.

The suspect is accused of striking a 52-year-old male resident near the face with a sandal around 4:30 p.m. on September 23 at “Sodegaura Hikari no Gakuen”, the facility in Shimoshinden, Sodegaura City where he works as a care worker, and grabbing his upper body and tripping him so he fell backward around 7:50 p.m.

According to the police, the suspect has admitted to the charges. He explained, “We sometimes engaged in playful banter, and I hit him on the head with the sandal I was wearing as if making a comedic jab. Tripping him, knocking him down, and straddling him was an extension of that.” He added, “He was someone who liked physical contact. It wasn’t an outlet for anger or stress.” 

On September 29, the police received information that “a staff member is routinely committing acts of violence,” and proceeded to interview involved parties and investigate security camera footage. The suspect was in charge of the floor where the male resident lived. Police are investigating whether there are other victims.

The male resident was not injured. In response to press inquiries, the facility stated, “We take it very seriously and deeply reflect on having caused anxiety regarding our users’ lives.”