The trial for a Japanese American Bronx NYPD Captain accused of helping an off-duty officer avoid DWI charges has begun, New York Daily News reports.
Capt. Naoki Yaguchi, a 14-year veteran, turned himself in on February 21, 2018, after being indicted by a grand jury for misconduct, according to another article by New York Daily News. The Bronx District Attorney’s office is bringing charges against Yaguchi, claiming that he delayed a breathalyzer for off-duty Detective Efrain Medina after Medina was involved in a two-car crash on April 22, 2017.
Officers usually try to administer the test within a two-hour period to maintain accuracy. Yaguchi says he didn’t begin his shift until almost 90 minutes after the accident. Once he learned of the accident, the captain says he ordered Medina be taken to the precinct.
Under cross-examination on Tuesday, Lt. Jose Batista, who was on the scene, testified that Yaguchi did not tell him to delay Medina’s sobriety test.
NYPD Captains Endowment Association President Roy Richter called the District Attorney’s office “disgraceful” and “malicious.”
An advocacy group called Japanese in America has also been supporting Yaguchi throughout his trial. Some of its members believe that Yaguchi is being scape-goated by the NYPD.
“It seems kind of ridiculous that they’re micromanaging how people do their jobs,” member Cynthia Okimoto told New York Daily News. “It’s scapegoating. It’s very obvious that that’s what’s happening here. You can’t pin it on someone because you think that they’re weak.”
Yaguchi strongly maintains his innocence. His trial will continue throughout the week.
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