A German man in Pattaya had an intense standoff with police as he was reportedly afraid to be arrested for an alleged overstay.
The Banglamung Police, Immigration officers, Public Health Staffers, rescue workers and the Pattaya News arrived at the house in question in Soi Panya Nimit in Nongprue late this afternoon (November 7th).
Mr. Tomas Veit, 47, a German national, was found in an enraged and erratic state according to Banglamung police.
He was trying to call on the phone his 35-year-old German wife for help while pointing a knife at his neck inside the house and refusing to surrender to Immigration officers or police, as well as refusing them entry.
After calling his wife he set fire to a battery and a 15-kilogram gas tank threatening to burn the entire house down. Rescue workers managed to put out the fire with water.
Officers were unable to force entry into the house as there were three dogs, two including Rottweilers, who appeared to be protecting the German man, following his commands, and were aggressive to all other parties.
The standoff continued for an hour as Mr. Tomas continued to destroy items around the home and threaten officers verbally from the house.
Mr. Tomas then climbed up to the roof of his home and sat there for a while before going back into the house. He reportedly tried to pull down high voltage wires near the home and also allegedly threw bottles at police officers.
His German wife arrived at the scene after an undetermined period of time, whose name was withheld, and reportedly agreed to work with Thai police to help distract and calm down her husband.
She talked with him at the front of the home allowing police to force entry and arrest Mr. Tomas without injuries to themselves or Mr. Tomas.
Mr. Tomas remained in a state of aggression and non cooperation throughout the arrest. He did not answer questions about his behavior to police or reporters.
The Banglamung Police Chief Colonel Nawin Sinturat told the Pattaya News they were notified from neighbors of the suspect that the foreigners who lived in this house had previously caused some trouble.
Their dogs were allegedly chasing after kids and motorbikes. Immigration officers found that the couple was over staying during the course of an investigation and came to conduct a routine arrest on Mr. Tomas when he resisted.
Mr. Tomas remains in custody as of press time and is facing multiple possible charges on top of the alleged overstay.
He will face those charges in a Thai court and then likely be processed for deportation and blacklisting according to Colonel Nawin.
creditTPN
