PHUKET: A 45-year-old man was arrested in Srisoonthorn last night (July 9) for firing a .22-calibre rifle into the air to intimidate his neighbour because he was drunk, and angry over the noise his neighbour made.
Thalang Police were informed of the incident at 10:18pm, reported Thalang Police Deputy Chief Pol Lt Col Patiwat Yodkwan.
Police were told that several gunshots had been fired and that people had been threatened for dumping the garbage next to their house, in the area behind the Supalai Essence Phuket housing estate in Moo 3, Srisoonthorn.
Officers arrived at the scene to find a black Isuzu pickup being driven out of the alley, which police had already been informed belonged to the accused shooter.
Officers stopped the pickup and found Pramuan Hongsiri, 45, drunk behind the wheel.
A search of the pickup found a legally registered .22-calibre CZ rifle, and 55 .22-calibre bullets, a magazine and a gun cover for the rifle.
Pramuan was taken to Thalang Police Station and charged with drunk driving and carrying a firearm in a public area without justifiable cause.
Pramuan confessed to firing his rifle into the air. People often brought garbage to his neighbour’s house, making much noise when they did so, he explained.
He was at home drinking alcohol when fired three to four shots into the air to intimidate them, he said.
After firing the gun, he started throwing rocks onto his neighbour’s roof, he added.
