Banglamung police shot and killed a motorcyclist who ran through a Pattaya checkpoint, then allegedly fired upon officers to evade capture.
Sarawut Ratanapahira, 34, sustained two 11 mm. gunshots wounds to the head and chest Tuesday under a canal bridge on a remote soi in Nongprue Moo 6. Beside him laid a 9 mm. pistol and four expended shells.
Banglamung deputy chief of crime suppression Lt. Capt. Narong Prajim said he and Capt. Ratti Wongwej were manning a checkpoint about 500 m. from the dead man at Soi Boonnak when Sarawut and friend Jirayu Luangsakda, 25, blew past without stopping. The officers pursued.
In their escape attempt, the pair crashed the motorbike and officers captured Jirayu – the son of a Pattaya policeman – with a loaded 38-caliber handgun.
Sarawut meanwhile, shot at the pursuing police, who returned fire, killing him.
Jirayu tearfully confessed he’d been smoking marijuana with a friend when Sarawut rode up and asked him to help transport some guns to another man. While en route, the policeman’s son backed out and asked Sarawut to drive him home. They took back roads in Nongprue and didn’t expect to run into a police checkpoint.
