A firefighter was arrested on a charge of assault after allegedly beating a woman because she refused to lend him money, according to police in Japan.
Tochigi police said that they have arrested 22-year-old Yuki Ryose, after being accused of beating the 54-year-old woman and stealing her purse containing cash.
According to the police investigation, Ryose, who works at the Mooka Fire Department, approached the 53-year-old woman in the parking lot of an Internet cafe, where he asked her for a cash loan.
When the woman, who works as a school teacher, refused to lend him money, Ryose attacked her. He repeatedly kicked and punched her before stealing her purse, which contained 40,000 yen ($400).
He then tried to flee from the scene, but the woman detained him until police arrived. Ryose was highly intoxicated at the time of his arrest on Tuesday around 1:00 a.m.
In court, Ryose denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to charges of theft and assault.