Tell it to the judge: US tourist says he stole Chiang Mai rental car "while sleep walking"

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Tell it to the judge: US tourist says he stole Chiang Mai rental car "while sleep walking"

 

Image: Sanook

 

A US tourist has told Thai police that he stole a rental car while he was asleep.

 

He had no idea what he was doing as he drove 30 kilometers out of town this morning having two scrapes, he claimed.

 

The timber yard worker - named only as Jarred - said it happens to him all the time, he's not responsible.

 

He will have to tell that to the judge - his offer to compensate the rental company for their losses cannot settle a criminal offence, reported Sanook. 

 

The drama began early this morning, Monday, when owner Withaya arrived at his Tha Pae rental company to discover that a Honda City car had been stolen. While cleaning was taking place the day before staff had inadvertently left the keys in the ignition overnight.

 

Police were contacted and after 191 radioed ahead the suspect was soon found driving near the Sri Bun Reuang intersection in Mae Rim.

 

Despite being asleep the suspect was able to realize the officials wanted him and he fled the scene starting a "sleep run" but was soon rounded up.

 

Jarred said that whenever he is stressed he will fall asleep. "It happens all the time," he continued,"and while I am asleep I can do the oddest things. Just like this, you see, I had no idea that I had stolen a vehicle and driven it off".

 

About the damage to the front and back of the Honda he added: "I have no idea what I hit. Don't worry - I'll pay for everything".

 

As he was taken away his final comment was:

 

"I'm not on drugs". 

 

Immigration found out that he had arrived in Thailand three days ago in Bangkok and traveled to Chiang Mai where he had been for two nights at a hotel near the rental shop in Moon Muang road Muang district. 

 

Police believe the theft happened at between 6 and 7am.

 

They said that the American worked in a timber yard and that the US consulate in Chiang Mai has been informed. 

 

Jarred was detained ahead of prosecution for theft.

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2017-01-15

[robblok]

Crazy story.. i think the Thai judge will believe him as much as I believe him.......... 

 

[nikmar]

could set a rather dangerous precedent. 

 

" I killed her in my sleep officer"

[Birdbrain]

He will get plenty of sleep at the Bangkok Hilton...

[darksidedog]

Well he wont be able to wander too far off from his new sleeping quarters will he? I feel that scaling walls in your sleep could prove fairly tough.

I will laugh pretty hard if he manages to bring evidence a Thai court believes if his condition is genuine mind.

Edited January 15, 2018 by darksidedog

[SoulWater]

Despite being asleep the suspect was able to realize the officials wanted him and he fled the scene starting a "sleep run"

"Sleep run" - absolute classic!

[agudbuk]

Tell it to the judge: US tourist says he stole Chiang Mai rental car "while sleep walking"
 

Image: Sanook
 
A US tourist has told Thai police that he stole a rental car while he was asleep.
 
He had no idea what he was doing as he drove 30 kilometers out of town this morning having two scrapes, he claimed.
 
The timber yard worker - named only as Jarred - said it happens to him all the time, he's not responsible.
 
He will have to tell that to the judge - his offer to compensate the rental company for their losses cannot settle a criminal offence, reported Sanook. 
 
The drama began early this morning, Monday, when owner Withaya arrived at his Tha Pae rental company to discover that a Honda City car had been stolen. While cleaning was taking place the day before staff had inadvertently left the keys in the ignition overnight.
 
Police were contacted and after 191 radioed ahead the suspect was soon found driving near the Sri Bun Reuang intersection in Mae Rim.
 
Despite being asleep the suspect was able to realize the officials wanted him and he fled the scene starting a "sleep run" but was soon rounded up.
 
Jarred said that whenever he is stressed he will fall asleep. "It happens all the time," he continued,"and while I am asleep I can do the oddest things. Just like this, you see, I had no idea that I had stolen a vehicle and driven it off".
 
About the damage to the front and back of the Honda he added: "I have no idea what I hit. Don't worry - I'll pay for everything".
 
As he was taken away his final comment was:
 
"I'm not on drugs". 
 
Immigration found out that he had arrived in Thailand three days ago in Bangkok and traveled to Chiang Mai where he had been for two nights at a hotel near the rental shop in Moon Muang road Muang district. 
 
Police believe the theft happened at between 6 and 7am.
 
They said that the American worked in a timber yard and that the US consulate in Chiang Mai has been informed. 
 
Jarred was detained ahead of prosecution for theft.
 
  -- [emoji767] Copyright Thai Visa News 2017-01-15

Not safe to be out alone in the US let alone travelling internationally.
How does he get a driving licence with that sort of mental disability?

[Nice Boyd]

Learned to Lie from a Ladyboi, in Pattaya suspect said he could not control his hand ?, a mind of its own

[midas]

This person needs immediate psychiatric assessment

[Classic Ray]

1 hour ago, agudbuk said:

Not safe to be out alone in the US let alone travelling internationally.
How does he get a driving licence with that sort of mental disability?

Where does it say he has a driving licence? You don’t need one to steal a car.

[mentalcolonization]

Ouch, he sleep travel to Thailand

[kartman]

The Judge will believe him providing he can prove he sleep drove everywhere in the righthand lane.( that lots of Thaidrivers were there with him should not prejudice his case)

[SoulWater]

The Judge will believe him providing he can prove he sleep drove everywhere in the righthand lane.( that lots of Thaidrivers were there with him should not prejudice his case)

I suspect the punishment will be a "sleep deportation"

[r136dg]

He must have some kind of disorder. You have to be freakin nuts to even think of pulling off a story like that. 

[agudbuk]

Where does it say he has a driving licence? You don’t need one to steal a car.

If he
Doesn't have a licence thhasts another charge

[Argus Tuft]

All good comments above.

 

But!  Given he was asleep, how was he able to wander around the rental car lot and find one with the keys in it?

 

That is the question...

[Get Real]

11 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

his offer to compensate the rental company for their losses cannot settle a criminal offence

Since when did real dough, become so ugly? 

 

11 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

A US tourist has told Thai police that he stole a rental car while he was asleep.

I wish him good luck with that! It´s a really good one. though.

[balo]

I do not believe this story at all. Sleepwalking yes, but not driving a car and trying to escape the police in your sleep. Sounds like a real nightmare.

 

 

[Emster23]

If his story is true, it should not be that difficult to get doctors reports from USA to confirm his malady. One would think he might have seen a doctor about this problem at some time in his life. Considering driving skills on Thai roads, I would assume many other drivers are asleep at the wheel

[rodney earl]

Sounds more like drugs to me.!!

[AhFarangJa]

15 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

his offer to compensate the rental company for their losses cannot settle a criminal offence, reported Sanook. 

........Come off it Sanook..........A basket of chicken essence can settle threatening with a deadly weapon, or a road rage, or assault......all criminal offences........Oh, sorry, forgot the Wai too.

[ebean001]

my advise is to stay home the next time you want to leave the USA. Remember buddy your not in the USA. You are in a foreign country. you have the right to come but with your problem (I do it all the time) you should have sense not to come or bring friends to 'protect' you. Bottom-line: your stupid and a criminal. That is all.

[sammieuk1]

This could explain Thai driving style a nation of sleep walkers.

[Serviceman78]

Wonder if he was ACTUALLY on something. My older sister had a habit of sleep walking among other things while she was on Ambien. She's actually  driven her car while on it and damn near ran into a parked car. Another time she made a full meal, and had no memory of it, much to mine and her husbands delight. Came home after working a graveyard shift to find baked chicken, veggies and rice cooked lol

[thaichiro]

15 hours ago, agudbuk said:

Not safe to be out alone in the US let alone travelling internationally.
How does he get a driving licence with that sort of mental disability?

Who said he had a license? Besides, he’s from America, home of crazy defenses like “eating too much sugar made me do it” and other nonsense excuses that ultimately got defendants off. It’s a reflex!

[webfact]

UPDATE:

 

Video: Was 22 year old American car thief really sleeping?

 

Picture: TNA Mcot

 

Thai media posed a question about the 22 year old thief caught on CCTV stealing a rental car.

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1020472-video-was-22-year-old-american-car-thief-really-sleeping/

[peperobi]

That is a really good excuse...ha...ha...ha.

[newnative]

   I'm going to award him a couple of points for originality.

[captspectre]

the idiot must think he is in the states where some bone head judge will believe him! now the Thai's should lock him up for a few years and give him an education on how to be responsible for his actions,  he must think that the Thai's are idiots to believe him!

 

[kiwikeith]

15 hours ago, Birdbrain said:

He will get plenty of sleep at the Bangkok Hilton...

 

Never a dull moment in LOS, the country gets weirdo's from all over the world.

 

Big fine and psychiatric report, then deport him, he is a danger to society.