Police today were hailing one of their own killed in the line of duty for his bravery after he was killed during a pursuit in north metro Bangkok.
The agency responsible for policing the highways recognized the bravery of Sgt. Maj. Setthakan Loykhampom who was killed yesterday in Pathum Thani province after a routine stop led to a high-speed pursuit because the suspect feared that he would be busted for possessing a vape.
“The Central Investigative Bureau would like to express its condolences and salute the brave policeman, police Sgt. Maj. Setthakan Loykhampom, commander of Royal Thai Police Squad 2,” the bureau said in a statement. “We offer encouragement and support to the family of the police officer, who served with the commitment to pay the ultimate price.”
Setthakan had stopped his patrol motorcycle on the shoulder of Highway No. 9 just after 5:30pm where a man, Kittitat Ratprasert, was fishing on the side of the highway.
In dramatic footage from Setthakan’s body camera, Kittitat soon sped off in his car and the officer gave pursuit. Both are seen driving dangerously fast through traffic, overtaking vehicles for several minutes.
Setthakan followed Kittitat toward Bang Pa-in after a fork in the road and was overtaking his vehicle when the video shows Kittitat veer right into the officer’s path, killing Setthakan.
After the crash, Kittitat fled on foot as Setthakan lay in the road with a severe head injury.
He surrendered to police hours later. The 36-year-old driving instructor said that Setthakan had tried to search his car, and he feared arrest because there was an e-cigarette and a bottle of beer.
Kititat insisted that he did not mean to ram the cop, but investigators were unconvinced after reviewing the body cam footage. As he was being led from the station last night, two men rushed to land punches on him before he fled back inside.
Police were still gathering evidence. They found that Kittitat’s vehicle had the wrong plates on it. No trace of drugs or alcohol was found in his body.
Police said he is likely to be charged with murdering a law enforcement officer under Section 289 of the Penal Code.
The Highway Patrol Division is part of the Central Investigation Bureau. The station where Setthakan was assigned also offered its condolences this morning.
“Rest in peace. The good deeds you have done will be inscribed in this world forever,” it said in a statement.
Setthakan’s fiance posted a photograph she said was their last taken together.
“Thank you for always being by my side, whether in suffering or happiness,” she wrote. “Thank you for always being on top of everything. Thank you for always honoring each other. I will always love and miss you.”
