Photo via Channel 8
A confrontation at a traffic checkpoint in Nakhon Nayok has sparked controversy after Thai police officers fatally shot a man believed to be fleeing the scene. Arnon “Beer” Ngamroop, 29, was killed during the incident, leading his family to accuse the police of power misuse.
Arnon, along with his friend Thanaphon, was attempting to evade police inspection when the situation escalated. According to Pak Pli Police Station officers, Arnon made a U-turn at the checkpoint and drove against traffic, allegedly attempting to flee from arrest. The police reported shooting at the vehicle, claiming Arnon had pulled out a gun and attempted to reverse into officers.
However, Thanaphon contradicted this account, telling Channel 8 that neither he nor Arnon were armed. He explained their actions stemmed from panic over potential drug and alcohol tests, following a night out in Prachin Buri province. Thanaphon admitted they turned into an alley that was a dead end, prompting police to fire at them. He urged Arnon to surrender at that point, but Arnon attempted another escape maneuver, reportedly hitting officers with the car, which led to further shots being fired.
The narrative shared by Thanaphon and Arnon’s family includes concern about the use of lethal force, arguing that Arnon’s attempt to flee should not have resulted in a deadly outcome. They maintain that they were unarmed and acted out of fear.
Police, meanwhile, assert that they acted in self-defence, noting that Arnon had a history of drug and theft-related charges, while Thanaphon had a past drug arrest. Thanaphon has been charged with drug use in connection with the incident and released on a 50,000 baht bail.
Channel 8 reports that police have not released further detailed information regarding Arnon's case, leaving significant public interest and scrutiny over the actions taken during the checkpoint incident. The disagreement highlights ongoing concerns about police conduct and the appropriate use of force in law enforcement situations.
Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger
-- 2025-04-21
Source link