SOURCE: Pattaya Daily News: February 12th 2007

YOUNG DRUNK GANGSTERS FLEE FROM PATTAYA POLICE

On 11th February, at 5 am, Police Lieutenant General Santi Chainiramai from Pattaya District Constabulary was notified that some young gangsters were armed in a bronze Isuzu Dragon pick-up and cruising the area in a suspicious manner. They drove from Chanel P entertainment venue on Pattaya Third Road straight to Soi Paneit Chang on Pattaya Middle Road.

When, the gang was stopped by a road block in front of Tantharak School, manned by regular and volunteer police, they decided to escape and one of the gangsters fired a gun into the air. There were 5 gang members in the cab of the pick-up who later told the police that they had been drinking alcohol and feared being arrested by the police.

The gang then drove full pelt down Soi Neurn Plubwahn, left into Sukhumvit Road and then into South Pattaya Road, closely pursued by the police until they caught them at the junction. The police apprehended the gang, who now consisted of 3 men and I girl, all 20 years old. They were Watchara Dutsamai, Krisada Meaksuwan, Danupol Gertsri and the female daei, Checking in the cab, the police found a .38 revolver and one bullet casing, so they took all the gang to the police station for questioning.

On further interrogation, Watchara revealed that none of the gang members apparently knew that their friend, Ton, who had fired the gun previously, actually had a gun in his possession. Ton had leapt out of the pick-up and escaped in the vicinity of Soi Neurn Plubwahn during the flight from the police pursuers. Watchara cited the reason for escaping from the police was that they were drunk. The police, however, didn't believe the gangs story and consulted a volunteer police, who had witnessed the shooting. The volunteer said that he regarded the shooting in the air as being a threat and also that he thought that they intended to commit a robbery or some such offence and should, therefore, be detained for further questioning.

The girl was released, but the three young men were arrested on suspicion of being involved in the shooting incident; the police are still searching for Ton. When he is found he will be charged with possessing a gun without a licence and discharging it in a public place

It would be interesting and informative to discover where they hailed from. Were they Chonburi natives?