Rungroj Suaprang, who is wanted for a separate drug offence in Nonthaburi, left behind his car and female friend Apinya Charoenprai, 24, and fled to hide in the bushes before he was nabbed hours later. The pre-dawn search by some 200 police, Army and volunteers led to the Rangsit-Nakhon Nayok Road being blocked.

Motorist Supanat Thitikan, who witnessed the incident, said four policemen on motorcycles were chasing the suspect’s Toyota sedan till the intersection when the traffic light showed red. As the police got off their motorbikes to capture him, Rungroj backed his car to hit the police motorbikes and crashed into nearby vehicles to find his way out but was unsuccessful. In desperation, Rungroj allegedly shot the police wounding two of them. When police counter-fired, his female friend Apinya was injured, the witness said.

The injured policemen were identified as Special Chief Petty Officer Nakrit Sirisong and Police Lance Corporal Thatchai Lohakul.

‘Drugs, gun in car’

Rungroj later claimed that he broke away from the checkpoint because he had three grams of “ice” and 10 yaba tablets plus a pistol in the car. He said he was afraid police would kill him.

Pol Major Supachai Srisak of Nonthaburi’s Muang precinct revealed that Rungroj had also shot and injured a policeman during a sting operation on July 8 last year and managed to escape. After Rungroj was prosecuted for his alleged crimes in Pathum Thani, he would be transferred for prosecution of his alleged crimes in Nonthaburi, police said.

Rungroj, who faces charges of attempted murder of two on-duty policemen and having illicit drugs and a gun in possession, was later brought to the Thanya Buri Court to apply for the first 12-day detention period. His injured friend Apinya was facing the charge of having illicit drugs in her possession. Police on the same day also captured Rungroj’s alleged accomplice, Ratchanok Donsingha, hence Ratchanok was also charged with having illicit drug in possession with intent to sell.

According to the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, Pathum Thani’s Muang, Thanya Buri, Lam Lukka and Klong Luang districts had seen a total of 3 million yaba pills and two kilograms of “ice” and five kilograms of marijuana seized last year.