Pattaya-
A homeless transgender person is accused of throwing rocks at vehicles early this morning in Pattaya.
Lieutenant Colonel Nattaphon Sangsri of the Pattaya City Police was notified of the incident around 4:00 AM on Pattaya Second Road near Soi 13/2.
Police and The Pattaya News arrived at the scene to find a 35 year old transgender person who appeared to be having mental difficulties, according to Pattaya Police. The name of the suspect was withheld pending a psychiatric evaluation. Several rocks were found near where the suspect was sitting in front of a closed beer bar. The suspect was detained and taken to the Pattaya Police Station for further processing.
A motorbike owner, Ms. Supaphon Promrin from Nong Khai, told The Pattaya News that she was riding on her motorbike down Second road with her friend as a passenger.
The suspect allegedly threw a rock at her motorbike without provocation. She was afraid that the suspect might further attack her or others and so she and her friend decided to immediately go to the police. Supaphon’s motorbike, which she said was newly purchased, suffered minor damage according to the police report
The Pattaya News notes that the number of homeless in the area have been rising steadily over the past several months. Officials with the Chonburi Homeless Protection Center have been working on resolving the problem but have admitted it is difficult due to the current economic situation in Pattaya.
Pattaya is a tourist city and is visited by roughly 10 million international tourists a year. However, due to the Covid-19 Coronavirus situation borders currently remain closed and a large percentage of local businesses remain shuttered. As a result many people locally have become destitute and homeless. Pattaya City has offered for many of them to move into the city homeless shelters, however, many have chosen not to accept that offer and remain on city streets.
Pattaya City officials have said that when possible they are paying for bus tickets for homeless people from other provinces who still have family and friends at home to return and get them off the local streets. That being said, many have nowhere to go and also suffer from both alcohol and drug problems as well as mental issues, according to Pattaya police.
