An American man who allegedly stole beer from a convenience store in Bangkok while high on methamphetamine and later slashed a policeman's neck when he tried to arrest him will be charged with attempted murder.
According to police, Alexander Lopez, 29, showed a box cutter while he snatched cans of beer from a 7-Eleven on Phadung Dao Road in Samphanthawong district about 10am on Saturday. He then fled the store.
Pol Lt Prasarn Somkanay, 58, was on duty at a nearby traffic light booth on Charoen Krung Road, and he chased the man on his motorbike and tried to arrest him. The American allegedly resisted and slashed the policeman’s neck with his cutter before fleeing again.
Witnesses rushed the injured policeman to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration General Hospital.
The fleeing suspect exhausted himself and was finally arrested on Chalermkhet 1 Road in Pomprap Sattruphai district about 11.05am on Saturday.
Mr Lopez tested positive for methamphetamine use, according to police who said he was unable to answer police questions.
They plan to resume questioning the suspect in the presence of representatives from the US embassy today.
Police said the American is also accused to stealing a bag and a mobile phone from Thammasat University about 1am on Saturday.
