The police announced the arrest of a suspect named “Santi” at a checkpoint in Korat. He was found to have committed theft in multiple locations and confessed he needed money for drugs.
On October 4, 2024, police officials held a press conference detailing Santi’s arrest based on several warrants for attempted murder of officials, illegal possession of firearms, and other crimes following his violent resistance during the capture.
During his arrest, Santi fired at the police and fled. After fleeing across multiple locations, he was finally apprehended on October 7, 2024, at a police checkpoint, where weapons were confiscated.
Police tracked him using CCTV and found a trail leading through various places, involving disguise changes and multiple taxi rides to evade capture.
Upon arrest, Santi had four outstanding warrants for theft-related charges across different provinces, with incidents reported in Mahasarakham, Khon Kaen, Saraburi, and Bangkok.
Santi admitted to committing theft to fund his drug habit and intended to store stolen goods with his wife. He claimed his wife was not involved and defined his violent interactions with the police as desperate reactions due to ongoing personal conflicts.
The firearms he allegedly used were reported stolen, and police will further investigate their origins. Additionally, he mentioned plans to visit his child in a different province before intending to surrender but was caught beforehand.
After firing at police to escape, Santi claimed he had just entered a house only to fetch drinking water. He will be sent for a medical examination before being detained on October 9, 2024.
This article was rewritten from a Thairath’s news article.
