BRIEFLY: Junior high girls abuse officers

KASUKABE, Saitama Prefecture--Three 14-year-old girls were arrested here after they allegedly assaulted a pair of police officers who had admonished them for riding double on their bicycles.

The melee erupted when a police sergeant, 44, stopped two junior high school girls on a bike around 5:10 p.m. Saturday. One of the girls shoved the officer and said, "The cops can't do anything." Her friend then kicked him in the leg, police said.

A second officer was preparing to take the juveniles to a police station when another pair of girls, also riding double, rode up. One of the new arrivals cursed the policeman and spit in his face. The alleged assailant was also arrested.(IHT/Asahi: April 15,2008)