Police prepare attempted murder charge against US suspect
A hospital test detected methamphetamine in the 29-year-old’s blood after he allegedly slashed a Bangkok traffic officer while fleeing a 7-Eleven.
Bangkok police are preparing to charge a 29-year-old US national with the attempted murder of an on-duty officer after he allegedly slashed a traffic policeman in the neck with a box cutter while fleeing a convenience-store incident.
Pol Maj Gen Chaikrit Pho-a, commander of Metropolitan Police Division 6, said on Sunday (August 23, 2026) that the suspect, identified as Alexander, had been arrested on suspicion of robbery, resisting officers and attacking a policeman.
Testing at Police Hospital detected methamphetamine in his blood, Chaikrit said. Investigators reported that the suspect had given confused answers, remained largely uncooperative and appeared intoxicated during initial questioning.
Phlapphla Chai 1 Police Station has contacted the US Embassy in Bangkok and asked it to send a representative to attend a more detailed interview with the suspect on Monday (August 24).
Pol Lt Prasarn Somkanee, deputy traffic inspector at Phra Ratchawang Police Station, was injured during the incident at about 10am on Saturday (August 22). Members of the public helped him and took him to hospital, where his condition was reported to be stable.
Officer attacked while intercepting fleeing suspect
Police were alerted after a foreign man allegedly took goods from the Phadung Dao branch of 7-Eleven, within the jurisdiction of Phlapphla Chai 2 Police Station.
The store’s representative told investigators that the suspect had appeared to be buying six cans of beer before running from the shop without paying.
A member of the public followed him as he fled. Prasarn then rode his motorcycle to intercept the suspect, who allegedly used a box cutter to slash the officer across the neck before continuing his escape.
People nearby went to Prasarn’s aid and arranged for him to be taken to hospital.
Police arrested the suspect at 11.05am on a road inside Soi Chaloem Khet 1.
Two police stations handle separate cases
Proceedings have been divided between two police jurisdictions because the alleged convenience-store robbery and the attack on the officer occurred in different areas.
Phlapphla Chai 1 Police Station is handling the knife-attack case and is preparing the following charges:
- Attempted murder of an officer acting in the course of his duty
- Resisting or obstructing an officer
- Carrying a knife in a town or village without permission
Investigators are also considering an additional charge following the drug-test result.
Phlapphla Chai 2 Police Station is handling the convenience-store case and is pursuing allegations of robbery and resisting an officer.
The robbery allegation is based on the store representative’s account that the suspect took six cans of beer and ran away without paying.
University staff identify suspect in earlier theft
Chaikrit said security personnel from Thammasat University’s Tha Phra Chan campus had visited police on Saturday night to view the detained suspect.
They identified him as the person suspected of entering a multipurpose building at about 1am on Saturday and stealing a backpack containing a mobile phone.
Police had not announced a separate charge in connection with the university theft allegation.
