POLICE fired gunshots at Na Jomtien beach in Pattaya yesterday afternoon (May 23) as they chased an armed drug trafficker they were trying to nab in a sting operation with the suspect injured in the leg, TV Channel 7 said.
At 2.20 p.m. Pol. Col. Navin Therawit, head of Pattaya City police station, was informed that there was shooting at Jomtien Sai Song road with a suspect being injured and quickly rushed there with Pol. Lt. Col.Sanan Kotanon and Sawang Boriboon rescuers.
At the scene they met a police team led by Pol.Maj. Chaimes Chaiyawan-ruch from Na Jomtien police station, who had just arrested Mr. Adisak (surname withheld), nicknamed Joe Jomtien, 45, who had been shot in his right leg. He was given first aid then taken to the hospital under heavy police escort.
The bronze pickup truck he was driving had straddled the traffic island with the front tyre on the driver’s and a rear tyre badly burst.
Within was found a backpack holding 38 grammes of crystal methamphetamine (Ice) and 150 methamphetamine pills divided in separate bags ready for sale, drug paraphernalia, a digital scale and a 9mm pistol plus 15 rounds of ammunition.
The Na Jomtien police team revealed that they had mounted a sting operation and lured the suspect to deliver some drugs in front of Soi 11, Jomtien beach. However the suspect realised at the last minute this was a trap so tired to zoom off but police fired at the tyres.
However despite two burst tyres he continued driving until his vehicle came to a stop on the traffic island.
The suspect still refused to surrender, pulling out his pistol aiming and waving it at the police who then fired gunshots with one hitting his right leg.
CAPTIONS:
Top: Police surrounding the drug suspect’s pickup truck which straddled the traffic island at Jomtien Sai Song road.
Front Page: The injured drug suspect lying on the traffic island grass while police inspect the drugs seized from his vehicle. Both photos: MNG Online
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