Wiang Chiang Rung police patrol spotted a young man riding a motorcycle acting suspiciously. When officers identified themselves to conduct a search, he abandoned the motorcycle and fled on foot, then drew an 11mm pistol and fired one shot at the arresting team. He was eventually caught and admitted to having taken 5 methamphetamine pills after buying 100 pills for 1,000 baht. He now faces 8 serious charges, including attempted murder of an officer.
At approximately 15:00 on 17 February 2026, under the command of Police Major General Manop Senakul, Commander of Chiang Rai Provincial Police, and Police Colonel Sihanat Nilsuk, Chief of Wiang Chiang Rung Police Station, an investigative team led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Yutthakorn Thamwong, Deputy Chief of Investigation at Wiang Chiang Rung Police Station, along with patrol and traffic units, was dispatched to conduct a drug crackdown in Dong Maha Wan Subdistrict, Wiang Chiang Rung District, Chiang Rai Province.
While patrolling the Ban Pa Lao–Ban Rong Wai Road in Village No. 3, officers encountered Mr. Thinphat, also known as "Ex," riding a black-gray Yamaha LS 125cc motorcycle without a license plate. Due to his suspicious behavior, officers identified themselves to conduct a search, but Thinphat abandoned the motorcycle and fled toward the Ban Mai Maha Wan clay pit area in Village No. 12.
During the pursuit, Thinphat fired one shot from an 11mm handgun at the police officers to obstruct their arrest. Fortunately, no officers were hit. The suspect then fled into a house in Village No. 12, Dong Maha Wan Subdistrict, later identified as the home of Mr. Pornchai, the suspect's father. Officers contacted the father to help negotiate, but the suspect initially resisted.
Subsequently, Police Lieutenant Colonel Nikorn Sarakhokham, a narcotics officer, searched the house and found evidence including 95 methamphetamine pills (approximately 8.84 grams) sealed in a yellow plastic bag, one homemade 11mm handgun without a serial number (the firearm used to shoot at officers), and six rounds of 11mm ammunition (one chambered round and five in the magazine).
During interrogation, Thinphat confessed to purchasing 100 methamphetamine pills from a local drug network in Mae Yao Subdistrict for 1,000 baht and admitted to using 5 pills before his arrest. Urine tests conducted at Wiang Chiang Rung Hospital confirmed the presence of narcotics in his system.
Initially, the authorities charged him with eight serious offenses, which include: Possession of Category 1 narcotics, possession of an illegal firearm, carrying a firearm in public, firing a gun in a village without justification, resisting and obstructing officers, attempted murder of officers during duty, trespassing in a residence, and drug use while operating a vehicle. The suspect and the seized evidence were handed over to Wiang Chiang Rung Police Station for further legal proceedings.