GUSHIKAWA, Okinawa — Okinawa police are holding three U.S. military dependent teenagers for allegedly mugging a cab driver April 9.

The three suspects, two 17-year-olds and a 16-year-old, live on Camp McToureous and were handed over to Japanese authorities Monday after an investigation by Okinawa and military police.

A police spokesman at the Gushikawa police station said the teens hailed a taxi in Gushikawa about 10:30 p.m. and told the driver to take them to an address in the Midorimachi district of the city. They gave the driver a $10 bill for the fare.

Then, as the 64-year-old driver made change, one of the youths allegedly struck the driver with his fist, punching him on the left side of his face while another youth snatched the $10 and 550 yen that the driver was preparing to give them as change, the police spokesman said.

The driver sustained bruises on his head and face, according to the police report.

Working on eyewitness accounts, including detailed descriptions of the three teens, military investigators helped police from Gushikawa to identify the suspects, the police spokesman said.

During questioning, the three suspects admitted to the crime, he said.

Migrated