Pol Lt Col Wutthiwat Liangboonjinda, Deputy Chief of Wichit Police, confirmed today (Nov 24) that officers “still can’t catch the suspect” and are now reviewing CCTV footage across the area to determine his escape route.
“We checked every route he might have run to,” he said.
The suspect, named in the official report as Mr ‘Ex Chanaphai’, 37, from Surat Thani, had been arrested by Thalang District officers at a residential building in Moo 4, Wichit, at 1:17am on Friday (Nov 21).
Officers reported seizing 12 methamphetamine pills (ya bah), 0.59 grammes of crystal meth (ya ice), drug-using equipment, a mobile phone and a Honda Wave motorbike.
According to Thalang District officials, the suspect escaped after pushing past escorting officers while being transported to Wichit Police Station.
“It was late at night and very dark. He ran while still handcuffed, and we couldn’t see which way he went,” Lt Col Wutthiwat explained.
In an unexplained delay, the escape was not reported to Wichit Police until 5:01pm on Saturday (Nov 23), when Deputy Thalang District Chief Chaiporn Yangchin filed a formal complaint for escape from lawful custody.
Wichit Police have registered the case as Criminal Case No. 602/2568 and are in the process of requesting an arrest warrant.