Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

A mental health crisis response drill in Ang Thong province took an unexpected turn when a plainclothes police officer mistook the staged scenario for a real-life incident and tackled an actor playing the role of a violent patient, resulting in minor injury.

 

The incident occurred at approximately 10:00 on 27 June on the Ang Thong–Sing Buri Road, in front of the Yan Sue Subdistrict Health Promotion Hospital. The simulation was part of a training programme under the SMI-V project, aimed at enhancing the capability of public health personnel to manage high-risk psychiatric and drug-dependent patients who may become violent in the community.

 

The drill involved a realistic scenario where an actor, posing as a mentally ill individual in a state of agitation, brandished a box cutter on the roadside. Unaware that a training exercise was underway, a passing police investigator on a motorcycle observed what he believed to be an actual emergency in progress.

 

Seeing the man armed with a blade and moving aggressively, the officer quickly stopped and, following police tactical protocol, subdued the actor. The force of the intervention knocked the man to the ground, causing him to cry out in pain, much to the shock of onlookers, including hospital staff and trainees who were unaware that the police officer was not part of the drill.

 

The officer, confused by the situation, had reportedly asked whether the scene was real before intervening, but received no clear response. After the incident, medical staff provided first aid to the actor, who was fortunately able to continue the training exercise shortly after.

 

Organisers later clarified that the officer’s involvement was purely coincidental and the result of a miscommunication, the police team scheduled to take part in the drill had not yet arrived. The training continued after a brief pause, and no serious injuries were reported.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-06-28

 

 

 

You can see now who need a doctor for mental health...First attack the actor, probably others were saying already it is not real, but he must first get rid of his frustrations and than he was confused, but the damage is done... They don't learn to think before taking actions... and of course miscommunication, and a misunderstanding...He could not help it...yeah