A man was seen taking a black object from the front basket of a bicycle and tossing it on a street in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture in northern Japan on October 13.

He then rode off, leaving the object behind.

Police have arrested the 75-year-old man and sent him to prosecutors on October 16.

He is suspected of obstructing authorities’ duties by abandoning the object on the street, forcing the police to impose traffic restrictions while they checked the suspicious object.

According to police, the object was a cardboard box wrapped in a black bag and containing garbage.

It turns out the contents did not pose any danger.

The suspect admitted he placed the object on the roadside but denied intention to obstruct duties.

This, however, was not the only such incident.

Similar cases have occurred in various nearby areas of Hirosaki, one on October 12, two including the case at hand the following day and another on October 14.

Sources said two other cases that have not been made public also occurred within the same time frame.

Investigators suspect the man may be involved in the series of cases.