After a four-day manhunt, police are pursuing a former boxer, “Santi Jeh Ah Lee,” aged 39, who has fled following a series of thefts, including a violent incident on October 3, 2024, where he used a firearm against law enforcement. The incident occurred in Bang Sue, where Santi escaped into a soi after breaking into a home; fortunately, no injuries were reported. Police struggled to locate him and believe he may have escaped into a nearby forest.
In an attempt to distract authorities, Santi’s wife staged a self-harm scenario, requesting police transport under false pretenses before attempting to hijack the police vehicle. She later escaped into the woods, but was eventually apprehended. Despite the police efforts, Santi remained elusive. Police Chief Nopasin Poonisawad indicated that the suspect had a history of theft in various locations and that a careful approach was necessary due to his known violence.
Investigators learned that Santi fled towards Viriyaprakarn Road and contacted a friend of his wife to retrieve 27,000 baht he had stashed. On October 4, at 1:15 AM, CCTV footage captured Santi calling a motorcycle taxi to Ratchada area, where he changed clothes to avoid detection.
Acting on information, police set up checkpoints in Amnat Charoen and successfully captured him after he attempted to flee from his hideout, revealing his drug addiction and the motivation behind his thefts to fund his habit.
Understanding the Criminal’s Evasion Tactics
Dr. Kritsana Pootrakul from Rangsit University’s criminology department remarked that Santi’s repeated offenses gave him insight into evasion techniques and an understanding of local geography, enabling him to escape effectively. His knowledge of self-concealment appears to be informed by media representations, prompting police to evolve their countermeasures against criminals.
Law enforcement explained that they avoided storming Santi’s hideout from the outset to prevent endangering civilians, balancing the need for caution with the urgency of potential threats to hostages if violence escalated.
This incident serves as a pivotal lesson for police, emphasizing the importance of advanced investigative strategies and the adaptation of techniques to counteract evolving criminal behaviors and tactics.
This article was rewritten from a Thairath’s news article.
