A man in a drug-induced delirium locked himself inside a house with his 5-year-old son. Police and rescue workers pried open a window to assist, and after more than 10 minutes of negotiation, he agreed to open the room and was sent for rehabilitation again.
At 11:20 a.m. on 15 Mar 2026 GMT+7, Lieutenant Colonel Phanuwat Aunnimit, Deputy Inspector of Crime Investigation at Mueang Phatthalung Police Station, along with police officers, responded to a report of a man showing delirious behavior inside a house in a community near Samakkhi Tai, Ruamjai Road, Khuha Sawan Subdistrict, Mueang District, Phatthalung Province. The report came from a woman about 30 years old, stating that her 29-year-old boyfriend was delirious and attempted to assault her.
Upon arrival, officers found the man had locked himself inside a bedroom with his son, leaving his girlfriend and daughter outside. Because the doors and windows were securely locked, the officers coordinated with rescue workers to gain access.
Rescue workers used tools to cut the lock on a window, then climbed inside the house to open the door for the police. They then negotiated with the man inside the bedroom, taking about 10 minutes to communicate.
It was initially understood that the man was worried about being arrested because he had just been released from a drug rehabilitation center and had only been home a few days. After negotiation, he finally opened the bedroom door with his 5-year-old son. Authorities then took control and transported him to a hospital for rehabilitation again.
The man's girlfriend said he had a heavy drug use problem and had undergone rehabilitation several times. He was most recently discharged from a rehabilitation center on 12 Mar 2026 GMT+7 but relapsed after returning home, causing hallucinations and delirium that frightened the family.
She also said that she previously worked at a company, but the man often caused disturbances there, leading her to resign. Currently, she is about four months pregnant and worries about the safety of herself and their children, hoping her husband will recover and stop using drugs.