A USS Kitty Hawk sailor was believed to be in police custody in Hong Kong on Tuesday, accused of assaulting a police officer and a taxi driver Saturday during a port visit.

Navy officials in Hong Kong confirmed that a sailor is in custody but said they could not provide information on the charges or incident. Officials at the U.S. Consulate said the sailor is being treated like any other American in Hong Kong and is afforded privacy unless he signs a privacy act waiver.

According to Chinese news sources, the sailor hit a taxi driver and a police officer during a drunken argument Saturday morning.

The Xinhua news agency reported that the 27-year-old sailor will be brought to court to face the charges. The court can decide whether to turn him over to the Navy for prosecution or prosecute him itself.

The Yokosuka-based aircraft carrier, with some 5,500 people aboard, and the USS Cowpens, part of the Kitty Hawk Strike Group, arrived at Hong Kong on Friday for a port call.

In March 2004, a Kitty Hawk sailor died during a visit to Hong Kong. The sailor’s death was blamed in part on alcohol, officials reported.

Migrated