Thai police officer tragically drowns after jumping into dam to pursue drug dealer

A Thai police officer tragically lost his life while pursuing a drug dealer in the Isaan province of Yasothon. The officer, police major Ekkapong “Ton” Tipanee, jumped into a four-metre-deep dam to help a colleague arrest the suspected drug dealer but drowned in the process.

Officers from Mueang Yasothon Police Station, and divers from Sawang Ruamjai Rescue, were alerted to the situation at Huai Nam Kaeo Dam in Yasothon at 3.30pm yesterday.

The search for Ton took almost seven hours until they found his body around 20 metres from where he had initially jumped in at 10.15pm.

The officers who joined the mission reported that they spotted a suspicious motorcycle rider, 26 year old man named Narathip “Kla” Photai, while on patrol and ordered Kla to stop so they could question…