A 24-year-old male professional dancer was arrested after stealing a taxi in Tokyo and injuring the 41-year-old male driver, police said Saturday.

According to police, Shodai Furumi allegedly stole the taxi in Shinjuku Ward at around 4 a.m. on Friday, Fuji TV reported. Police said that Furumi approached the parked taxi while the driver was changing the back seat cover. He said to the driver in English, “Sheet, clean, OK,” and then got in. However, the driver said the taxi was not in service, at which point Furumi got out and then sat in the driver's seat. As Furumi drove off, the taxi driver clung to the door and was dragged along for 35 meters.

The driver suffered injuries to his face and arms, police said.

The taxi was found abandoned in Setagaya Ward, approximately seven kilometers from the crime scene. Furumi was apprehended after he was spotted in the vicinity.

During questioning, Furumi denied the charge and was quoted as saying, "I was drinking [alcohol] and don’t recall anything.”

Furumi told police he works as a background dancer for a famous musician.

© Japan Today