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Phuket Policeman Wounded, Gunman Killed in Kata-Karon Shootout
By Chutima Sidasathian and Alan Morison Sunday, June 12, 2011
PHUKET: A Phuket policeman was shot twice and one of two assailants killed in a dramatic shootout on the streets of Phuket's Kata-Karon holiday district this afternoon. Another man is in hospital, shot in the chest.
Gunfire erupted about 2.10pm when traffic policeman Husthaporn Thongkhawbour confronted two men outside the Alpina Phuket Nalina Resort and Spa. The policeman was shot twice, once in each leg, but he also shot at least one of the men.
This afternoon, a bloody trail showed where one man had run down Ket Kwan Soi, which runs between Patak Road and Patak Thai Na Road, the road behind Club Med Phuket.
A series of bloody right footprints marked the trail as the gunman fled.
Around a corner in a small lane, police pursuers caught up with the man and shot him dead. Another man was badly wounded.
Traffic policeman Husthaporn had spotted two men behaving suspiciously near Nai Harn lagoon in southern Phuket and followed them to Kata-Karon on Phuket's west coast, asking for backup on his radio. By the time other police converged on the scene, officer Hustaporn had been shot.
Phuketwan reporters were at Patong Hospital where officer Husthaporn was treated for a wound in each leg before being transferred to Phuket International Hospital in Phuket City. He was conscious and smiling.
His wife Alisa and other relatives followed him. Khun Alisa is due to give birth to the couple's second daughter next month.
''I got a call to say my husband had been in a motorcycle accident,'' she said. ''They were trying to ease my anxiety. I am just so glad that my husband is alive.''
Tourists mingled with forensic police and foundation volunteers as the body of the dead man was fetched from a partly-built apartment at the end of the laneway. Scores of local residents gathered to see the man carried out in a white plastic shroud.
Senior Phuket police assembled at a table at a restaurant nearby working out how the shooting had unfolded. Other officers were examining the bloody footprints and carrying off a handgun in a plastic bag.
At the Alpina Phuket Nalina Resort and Spa, a waiter showed reporters two bullet holes in a glass wall on the inside of an open-air restaurant. Fortunately the restaurant area is open only for breakfast and nobody was in it at the time of the shooting. Staff at theresort said they believed that between four and five shots were fired.
Officer Husthaporn was undergoing an operation this afternoon to remove the bullets from his legs. Surgery was also taking place at Patong Hospital on the second assailant.
Motives for the men's action in starting a shootout will probably not emerge until the second man has been interviewed by police.
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Comments
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Sounds like good old fashioned policing by Officer Husthaporn, whose suspicions were raised enough to follow these armed crooks from Naiharn to Kata. Let's hope the officer makes a swift recovery.
Posted by
Mr Man
on
June 12, 2011 21:37
Strange how we always identify patong as the hotbed of crime in Phuket - more and more Kata/Karon seems to come to the fore. it seems to be the wild wild west there at the moment and getting worse every week, be it tuk tuks, other forms of corruption or just basic violence.
Posted by
Mister Ree
on
June 12, 2011 21:58
Not true, Mr.Ree; Hotspot of crime is Naiharn/Chalong area - just read the papers. These persons - again - were coming from Naiharn. Obviously you love Patong...
Posted by
pat
on
June 13, 2011 03:14
Check out the farang poser on his bike with the ubiquitous Thai girl on the back - he thinks he is so cool, not realising everyone is laughing at the loser!
Posted by
mike
on
June 13, 2011 09:01
Editor Comment:
That's a bit judgmental, Mike. And all from a photograph.
Mike
Ha ha, was thinking exactly the same, you put my mind into words..The fact is that the average thai find it hilarious that some farang think they "have made it" when they drive around with a tatooed lady.
Posted by
christian
on
June 13, 2011 09:46
Thank you to Phuket police to eliminate two more gangsters, I wish prompt recovering to officer Husthaporn.
Posted by
Jean-Paul Patrick
on
June 13, 2011 09:48
Please what has the photo of the shirtless helmetless tw*t got to do with this important local news story? I think he is going to get more comments than poor plod Officer Husthaporn.
Posted by
Neill
on
June 13, 2011 11:40
Editor Comment:
Tourists were in the area where the shootings took place.
Anyone else troubled by the fact that the police chased down the escaping man and shot him dead? I thought they were trained to shoot the leg to immobilize a fleeing individual and not to administer summary justice and kill him on the spot? Aren't they supposed to catch and try criminals, not shoot them dead?
Posted by
Atchariya P. Supaporn
on
June 13, 2011 12:14
Editor Comment:
Your qualms may be laid to rest, Atchariya P. Supaporn, by the detailed police report on what transpired.
Mike & Christian: You've both got it wrong, the bloke on the bike is a sign of the times here - a high end tourist just like the TAT needs. He's got the spending power to pay the fines for not wearing a helmet; to pay for his floozy sitting behind him yet skimps on his laundry bill by not wearing a shirt. He seems to fit in with the crowd. You see them everywhere here.
Posted by
Pete
on
June 13, 2011 12:34
With 30,000 registered guns in Phuket Province itself, plus all unregistered ones; that's a lot of guns in the hands of irresponsible people.
Posted by
Whistleblower
on
June 13, 2011 12:56
Dear Reportes Chutima and Alen of 'Phuket Wan Tousirm News". I do read your publication often but as of today I will stop!
I always agree to provide valuable information of any type of news to the public or in your case to the 'tourists of Phuket". However I always get rather upset when reporters and their publishing houses use names of establishments or even people who had nothing to do with the incident. I can clearly see that the Alpina Hotel is very well presented by you in text and photographs; I wonder if the Hotel Mangement approved this. You did have the 'courage' to talk to the a waiteress/waiter and to enter the Hotel Restaurant but I wonder if you had the 'courage' to talk to the Hotel Mangement first and to get at least their opinion on your (then) planed publication. I find it also very untasteful that you even make a photograph of the Hotel Logo! Shame on you!You also failed to state in your article if the Hotel had anything to do with the shoot-out? The readers now must make their own story. You see how poor you reporting shows!
I do like Kata Beach and I did stay at the Alpina before as well as many other Hotels and it is therfore that I write this email to you. Reporting sometimes does not need to reveal certain details and you have shown 'how not to report'...and please do not tell me about 'Free Press". What I can tell you for sure is that Kata and unfortunatley the Alpina has lost a number of good guests (me, my family and friends) because of your poor reporting standards which lead to a clear disliking of Kata and the Alpina. I will also share my thoughts with the Alpina and perhaps the municipality. From my opnion your are reporters with no "taste' of reality and 'need to know' news broadcasting.
Sincerely
Mr. Hans
Posted by
Mr. Hans
on
June 13, 2011 17:23
Editor Comment:
Just because there was a shootout near the resort, you are not returning there? Shame on you, Mr Hans. No right-thinking person who sees the issue clearly is going to follow your bad example.
Dear Ed, do you mind to tell me why haven't you published my comment to the article above?
Posted by
Mario
on
June 13, 2011 21:24
Editor Comment:
Because, Mario, we avoid publishing comments that are untrue or misleading.
@ christian. How do see you see a tattoo on the girl on the motorcycle? I can't see one.
You must have X-ray vision or with your IQ you should have a low voice too!
Posted by
Robin
on
June 13, 2011 23:35
@robin. So is that you on the bike, Robin? Otherwise why would you assail Christian? Unless you are another "posing loser".
Posted by
petr cecco
on
June 14, 2011 09:17
Dear Ed, are my comments untrue and misleading? Where do you live, Ed? What happens to Phuket is under the eyes of the people who live here. To denied the evidence isn't a honest way to to do the job for a journalist. Don't say the truth misleads people opinions!
Posted by
Mario
on
June 14, 2011 10:08
Editor Comment:
Just for starters, Mario, your first sentence reads:
''What happens to Phuket? There isn't a day without a shootout!''
Total, utter exaggeration. I won't go into details of the rest of your comment. Racism tends to alarm most readers.
To say the truth is it racism?
Wow! What a cute sentence for an expert journalist like you are!
Posted by
Mario
on
June 14, 2011 13:44
Editor Comment:
It's not the truth, Mario.
Dear Ed, man you are amazing, keep up the great work and the great answers to all the posters. Happy days.
Posted by
Jay
on
June 14, 2011 13:58
@Petr. Hi no not me on the bike/scooter. I ride a proper motorcycle.
Only stating that I cannot see any tatoos on the lady in the photograph.
Maybe Mike and Christian know the girl personally.
I think she may be Russian?
Have a great day.
Posted by
Robin
on
June 14, 2011 16:10
The clairvoyance or perhaps genius of some of the posters on this article is truly humbling. The ability to look at a picture of an innocent bystander, sum up his life, his thoughts and his value to society from that photo is truly incredible. How far do these talents extend? Can you look at someone's picture and instantly discern their future? Their past? If you can read their thoughts from a picture what else can you know? This is amazing, far more interesting to consider than the fact that a cop risked his life to make the streets safer for you to walk. Or the fact that two youths threw away their futures and why that happened.
I hope this site posts more pictures of innocent bystanders so you can tell us all about them.
If these are the comments the editor posts, I shudder to think what idiocy is in those held back.
Posted by
Martin
on
June 14, 2011 19:29
Dear Ed, are you trying to make the philosophical policy of the " half full and half empty glass "? Thinking that you are in the right because you are with the news, isn't sufficiet to say what is true or not! I'll remind to you your words a.s.a. the new crime will happen. Kind regards.
Posted by
Mario
on
June 15, 2011 09:32
Editor Comment:
We encourage intelligent debate and commenters who add to the informed content on the site, Mario. People who believe there are shootouts every day on Phuket when there aren't and that ''too many uncontrolled Thais'' come to Phuket don't add to intelligent debate or informed content.
I propose that "Kata-Karon" be renamed "Katakorn". It's much more catchy on the tongue.
Posted by
Pornthip
on
June 15, 2011 11:37
I vote for Pornthip's suggestion.
Alas it comes down to money. It will cost a fortune to reprint maps with the name change, but I do like how it sounds.
Now that would be a good change. Thank you Pornthip.
Posted by
Graham
on
June 15, 2011 12:25
Katakorn???Whats up with you all...kata is kata, karon is karon..two seperate and divided suburbs next to each other...The blame for your misunderstanding is probably down to the written article which does indeed say "Kata-Karon" when in fact the event took place in and only in KATA, nowhere near Karon.
Posted by
davidj949
on
June 15, 2011 20:03
Editor Comment:
The region has the same local council administration and the same tuk-tuk group. We'd prefer to call it Kata-Karon, except where the beaches are differentiated.
Dear Editors Chutima and Alan
Thank you for your reply!
I think it is a personal choice which I shared with you not to return to a Hotel and area where a shoot-out occured; you to say 'bad example and shame on me' is really nonsense. You did not at all address my key comments about your poor reporting; 'to mention and to show photos of the Alpina as this is totally not needed. You also said that 'because there was a shooting nearby the Hotel I will not go there anymore is a bad example'...this again is a little taste of your poor reporting skills because YOU wrote(and SHOWED A PICTURE WITH BULLET HOLES IN THE Hotel/Restuarant WINDOWS) that bullets have hit the dining room of the Hotel (where usually guests enjoy a meal). I suggest you get the facts straight before you reply wrongly hence distorting the true facts.
Sit back today and look at this case! Was it really necessary to 'interview' the waiter of the Alpina, show the bullet holes in the Restaurant window and to show the Hotel LOGO? Not really! Other publications state simply that it happend near or at a Hotel without mentioning the name and showing LOGOS. You think it was a nearby shootinh to Alpina's location but you make Alpina a center part of it!
Sorry but shame on you! If I would be a leader of this Hotel I would certailny confront you professionally!
Cheers
Mr. Hans
Posted by
Mr. Hans
on
June 16, 2011 19:58
Editor Comment:
If you think it's ''poor reporting'' to cover a case accurately, then you are missing something. All news outlets identified the resort. Television footage showed the resort. The first shootout took place at the resort's entrance. Bullets from the gunplay went into the resort, breaking glass in a dining area. And you want all this to not be reported? You seem to have a problem with the truth, Mr Hans. You also seem to have a problem with our high professional standards. As we said last time you took your rather sad stance, it's shameful for you to suggest that your reaction will be to no longer go to this resort. These thugs have shot a policeman. You prefer to shoot the messengers. Shame on you.
Dear Chutima and Alen
(I assume Alen is writing the replies)
We do indeed think on different 'wavelenghts' and I did forget that "Bad/blood news" do sell the best volumes in general (however you represent a tourism paper and not a 'crime paper'!!!!). Perhaps this is why reporters in 'general' do not have such a good reputation as 'human-beings'. You certainly belong to that 'club'.However if a reporter writes/reports for a local tourism news paper I would highly suggest to protect the local industry by NOT displaying Hotel Logos, interviewing waiters (unless you would have had the 'courage' to approach the General Manager...but you most likely did not as you the big reporter were too much afraid for that confrontation)...why? because the GM would have told you most likely what I trying to tell you since we started this dialouge and 'he' would have send you off his property. PROTECT YOU TOURISM BUSINESSES BY MINIMIZING THEIR EXPOSURE SHOULD THEY BE ACCIDENTLY INVOLVED IN A I.E. SHOOT-OUT LIKE THE ONE AT AND AROUND ALPINA. WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL HERE TO ONLY SAY 'AT/NEAR A HOTEL IN KATA THE FOLLOWING OCCURED...." AND NOT TO SHOW THE HOTEL LOGO (YOU SHOWED EVEN VERY VERY PROMINENTLY)?
You say 'all the others did also show the Hotel and mention the name; again you proof to be a poor reporter as you simply follow the 'blood gang of reporters' as I mentioned earlier. Lets hope all the other publications do not 'jump off the bridge'....this would mean you would also will jump. Shame on you!
All the best
Mr. Hans
Posted by
Mr. Hans
on
June 17, 2011 15:54
Editor Comment:
Your quibbling criticism and your desire to cover up the truth are equally appalling.
Phuketwan was the only media outlet to talk to the policeman's family, among the first at the scene of the deadly shootout, and as far as we are aware, the only media outlet to inquire whether any shots had gone into the resort.
Lacking even a hint of logic, you now attack the media in general. Pitiful, Mr Hans, just pitiful.
You want to live a big lie? Sorry. You're on your own. How awkward you must feel, unable to tell right from wrong.
HOHOHO....Alan; you sound like a 'beginner' in your field! You call yourself a reporter and havn't figured out that 'bad(blood)news'sell the best!You cornered yourself by saying'you were the only one reporting about bullets hit the Restaurant (by interviewing a Wwaiter who most likely got hell for this; becz I assume you did not have the guts to ask for senior management'!Again....for 'beginners'; it was not really a neccearry or vital part to tell our local tourists that fact (Bullet holes in the Restauarnt window of the Alpina) PLUS (just to sweetening it all up) show a full pic of the Alpina Logo. You not really getting it. Perhaps this is the reason why you do NOT report for i.e. the BKKP etc.. You must be lonely out there and I hope you have the ability to change your reporting style! Good Luck!!!
Posted by
Mr. Hans
on
June 20, 2011 13:40
Khun Hans, I'm not saying you're an idiot, but only an idiot would stop booking a stay at a hotel because, on one day in its existence, a bullet was once shot through one of its windows. It doesn't make that hotel a dangerous place to stay, does it?
In fact, on the contrary. It creates a lot of name recognition for the hotel. In fact, maybe they should leave the bullet hole there and create a Western-themed bar with the name "Shootout at the Alpina Corral".
Posted by
Pornthip
on
June 26, 2011 10:45
Sadly this is yet another example of why Phuket is now known more for its crime than any redeeming qualities.
Posted by
Harry Barracuda
on
June 26, 2011 18:47
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shocking story. its not safe these days even in kata.
Posted by poppop on June 12, 2011 21:33