Mahasarakham: A police sergeant was arrested after opening fire and injuring a vegetable vendor in Mahasarakham Province, an incident believed to be linked to his failure to take prescribed psychiatric medication. The officer, Pol. Sgt. Somporn, was subdued and arrested following a tense two-hour standoff with local police. According to Thai News Agency, the incident began at 6:00 a.m. when the special operations unit of the Mahasarakham Provincial Police surrounded Pol. Sgt. Somporn, aged 52, after he shot a vegetable vendor in Ban Yang, Tambon Mittraphap, Amphoe Ka Dam. The officer, armed and agitated, was seen pacing in front of a house and intermittently firing shots into the air. After a prolonged negotiation, police managed to convince him to surrender without further violence. The victim, Mr. Ari, a 69-year-old vegetable vendor, sustained an injury to his left shoulder and a neck laceration from the gunfire. He was promptly taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. The community, already familiar wit h Pol. Sgt. Somporn's history of mental illness, expressed fear and concern over the officer's erratic behavior. Local village headman Mr. Samrit Sonjai noted that Pol. Sgt. Somporn had previously been involved in a shooting incident a decade ago and was known to have mental health issues. The sergeant had been seen at a local noodle shop the night before the shooting, where he was reportedly carrying a gun but did not engage in any violent acts at the time. His behavior escalated the following morning, leading to the attack on the vegetable vendor and sporadic gunfire in the village. Pol. Col. Ponchai Chaloadet, Commander of Maha Sarakham Provincial Police, disclosed that Pol. Sgt. Somporn admitted to missing his medication for two days, which reportedly contributed to his agitation. Additionally, smoke from a neighbor's fire further exacerbated his irritability, prompting him to threaten his family and eventually flee his home. In response to the incident, the police sergeant has been temporarily suspende d from duty pending further disciplinary actions. He faces charges of attempted murder and illegal firearm possession, and has been transferred to Khon Kaen Psychiatric Hospital for treatment. Source: Thai News Agency
Menu