An Australian man was arrested after a dramatic incident in which he ran naked, set fire to his house, and smashed vehicles in a luxury village in Nongprue near Pattaya.
At 8:30 AM on December 4th, Pol. Lt. Col. Nattakon Chanlod, Deputy Superintendent of Investigation at Nongprue Police Station, received a report of a foreigner in a state of madness, threatening to destroy property and set his house on fire. The incident occurred in a luxury village in East Pattaya.
Upon arrival, police found a black Ford Everest and a blue and white Honda Click motorcycle damaged in front of a luxury home. The suspect, identified by police as Mr. Andrew, 38, an Australian national, was allegedly completely naked and acting erratically. He allegedly threatened the police, stating, “If you come near me, I’ll set fire to my house.” Despite police attempts to calm him, Mr. Andrew ran into the house, causing a commotion. Shortly after, flames and smoke were seen billowing from the house.
The police quickly contacted the Nongprue Municipality fire department and requested additional patrol support. As the fire truck arrived, Mr. Andrew emerged from the house. Police charged at him, resulting in a struggle as he resisted arrest. Eventually, they subdued him and transported him to Banglamung Hospital for treatment of cuts and burns.
Ms. A (Name withheld for her protection), a 56-year-old homeowner and neighbor, revealed that Mr. Andrew, his Thai wife, and two children had rented the house for about 5-6 months. She noted that Mr. Andrew had depression and bipolar disorder and would often become violent when off his medication. In the past few days, his behavior had become increasingly erratic, culminating in the morning’s destructive outburst.
A village security guard reported seeing Mr. Andrew’s wife leave the house and hide at the guard post. He then witnessed Mr. Andrew trying to damage the vehicles and allegedly being unresponsive to discussion. When police arrived, they attempted to negotiate, but Mr. Andrew ran back into the house and set it on fire.
CCTV footage captured the sequence of events, showing Mr. Andrew naked and use a steel grate to damage the vehicles before the fire broke out. The fire department arrived at 8:56 AM, and police managed to subdue Mr. Andrew and carry him out of the house.
Police plan to have doctors and medical experts evaluate Mr. Andrew and his mental health before proceeding forward with any possible legal charges. They also plan to partner with Chonburi Immigration to examine his visa and legal status in Thailand.
Naked Australian Man Arrested After Bizarre Rampage, Property Damage, and Arson in Pattaya - The Pattaya News