PATTAYA, Thailand – Police rescued a 31-year-old toy shop employee after a man armed with a knife and scissors held her hostage at a shop near a school in east Pattaya area, on September 29.
At 4:36 p.m., Nongprue Police Station received a report of a man behaving erratically and threatening a woman with sharp weapons inside Felita House and Toy in Soi Mab Yai Lia 12 (Nern Plub Wan).
Police patrol and investigation officers, Banglamung district officials and Sawang Boriboon Pattaya rescue volunteers rushed to the scene. The incident occurred around school closing time, with students, parents and local residents gathering nearby.
Inside the shop, officers found a thin Thai man later identified as Wirachai, 32, holding scissors in his left hand and a utility knife in his right while pressing the weapons against the neck of Suleephon, 31, who was working behind the counter. Officials secured the area and kept bystanders away before attempting to negotiate with the man by phone. When he remained uncooperative, officers waited for an opportunity and used a spare key to open the door.
Pol Lt Col Supat Sudsong, investigation inspector then signaled officers to enter and restrain the suspect. The man resisted and swung the knife at officers, but he was subdued shortly afterwards and the hostage was safely released. Suleephon suffered a minor cut to her hand and received first aid from rescue workers before being taken to safety.
A school security guard, identified as Chumpae, 49, told reporters that he had noticed the man behaving suspiciously before the incident, walking with a fixed stare and repeatedly keeping his hands in his pockets. Believing he might pose a danger to students, the guard asked him to leave the school grounds and continued watching him. The man later walked toward a convenience store. Concerned about the students’ safety, Chumpae called students back onto school grounds before the suspect crossed into the nearby toy shop.
Suleephon told reporters she was sitting and using her phone while watching the shop when the man entered looking frightened. He reportedly said he only wanted to hide from police for a moment and had done nothing wrong before grabbing the utility knife and scissors and holding them against her neck. She secretly called the shop owner and asked them to monitor the CCTV cameras. Police then arrived and rescued her.
Nongprue Police Chief Pol Col Nattaphon Phongsuksakul ordered a background check on Wirachai. Police said a drug test detected substances in his body, and he reportedly admitted taking methamphetamine before becoming paranoid and believing police were pursuing him. Police took him to Nongprue Police Station for further investigation and legal proceedings.
