Two servicemembers from Misawa Air Base, Japan, were arrested Saturday on suspicion of attempted murder in Morioka city, about 70 miles south of the base. Iwate Prefectural Police accused them of beating two Japanese men.

Darius Antione Carlton, 20, and Michael Alan Maldonado, 20, were arrested at 4:23 a.m. Saturday. They are accused of severely hitting two Japanese men on their faces and heads after the Japanese intervened in a fight between the servicemembers and other Japanese in a Morioka city parking lot. The police said the two servicemembers struck the men with metal weapons, described by police as a metal glove with four finger holes. The two Japanese men — a 42-year-old businessman and a 31-year-old driver — could have died had the two servicemembers continued to hit them, police said, noting their injuries included a skull depression and lacerations.

Misawa Air Base officials could not be reached Sunday to seek verification of the servicemembers’ names, ranks and branch of service. A spokesman for Morioka East Police, which is handling the case, said the two servicemembers were in Japanese custody as of Sunday. Spokesmen from both the Iwate Prefectural Police and Morioka East Police said they did not know the two servicemembers’ ranks or assigned units.

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