Thai man arrested for knife attack on Phuket Police Station officer (video)

A Thai man fled from Phuket to Phang Nga after a knife attack on a police officer at Tha Chatchai Police Station, eventually crashing his car and being arrested.

The suspect, 48 year old Choo-ai Phongthin, entered Tha Chatchai Police Station at around 2.50am on November 17 and rushed to the office of inquiry officer, Police Lieutenant Colonel Akkaraphon Wilai.

Choo-ai kicked the door and immediately attacked Akkaraphon with a knife. He took advantage of the ensuing chaos to escape from the police station, heading from Phuket to Phang Nga province.

Akkaraphon was taken to hospital with wounds to his forehead and arm. He received eight stitches for the two injuries and remained in hospital for further treatment.

Tha Chatchai Police Station officers tracked down Choo-ai and found him receiving treatment at Phang Nga Hospital. Officers restrained him and later transferred him to Phuket for questioning and legal proceedings.

Choo-ai faces a potential life sentence for attempted murder of an officer on duty and causing damage to another person’s property.

The motive for the knife attack was believed to stem from anger after Choo-ai was previously arrested by officers from Tha Chatchai Police Station. He was arrested on November 8 for damaging another person’s property.

Choo-ai was subsequently handed over to officers from Tai Mueang Police Station, who were handling the case. On November 16, he visited Tha Chatchai Police Station with his relatives, accusing police of an unlawful arrest.

Police confirmed they acted within legal powers due to an alert from Tai Mueang Police Station and presented the arrest warrant.

However, Choo-ai became highly agitated, prompting police to call in a rescue team to transfer him to Thalang Hospital. Choo-ai was discharged from the hospital and later carried out the knife attack on the police officer, Akkaraphon.

A similar attack on a police officer occurred in October when an app-based motorcycle taxi rider assaulted a police corporal in Bangkok. The suspect claimed the officer caused a road accident, leading to a delay in his work.