PATHUM THANI: A man believed high on drugs was hauled from a muddy canal and arrested on Tuesday night after earlier kidnapping a boy and threatening to stab the lad and a motorcycle taxi driver.
Thanongsak Chuanchom appeared confused, telling arresting officers he just "wanted a motorcycle to take me back to my girlfriend" who had left him three days ago, Manager Online News reported on Wednesday.
The 27-year-old worker in Min Buri, eastern Bangkok, also claimed he also had no idea why he was in Pathum Thani but allegedly admitted he had been drinking alcohol and took crystal methamphetamine earlier in the evening.
According to police, Mr Thanongsak was walking along Soi Uttsaha, an alley near a Tesco Lotus convenience store at Khlong 4 in Pathum Thani's Thanyaburi district, when he saw the boy. He went up to him, put a knife point to his throat and ordered him to stay calm.
The suspect then hailed a passing motorcycle taxi and told the rider to take them out of the area.
When the motorcycle exited the alley, he commanded the rider to take them to Future Park Rangsit shopping complex.
The driver, Mongkhon Kingkasem, told police his passenger then said, "Twist that hand grip and speed up the motorcycle or I stab the two of you with my knife." That was when he became aware the man had a weapon.
Minutes later, as they were passing a factory, Mr Mongkhon decided to stop the bike, ran over to a security guard and asked for help. The driver of a passing car also pulled over and got out of his vehicle, wanting to help the boy.
The knife-wielding passenger warned everyone not to come any closer, motorist Phanan Krutsamphan, 43, told police.
"Fortunately the boy shook the man off and fled," Mr Phanan recalled. Looking to escape, "the man suddenly jumped into the canal".
Police and rescuers were called to the area and the suspect was apprehended about 40 minutes later. A Rangsit municipality boat cornered him in the muddy canal, khlong Rangsit Prayunsak. Rescuers then grabbed the man and hauled him up onto the bank, over his protests that he could get out himself.
Mr Thanongsak continued to resist arrest and was forcibly carried to a car.
"We've charged the suspect on five counts," Pratunam Chulalongkorn police chief Pannaphat Detchotphisit said later. They included including using a weapon to steal an asset and detaining and assaulting the boy.
He also tested positive for drug use and would face an additional charge, Pol Col Pannaphat said.
Police said Mr Thanongsak was wanted on an arrest warrant issued by Chai Nat Provincial Court in 2014 for illegal possession of a firearm.
(Video: Pathum Thani's Rangsit city municipality rescue team)