The police officer's kindness deescalated a potentially dangerous situation.
A Thai police officer is being praised for an incident where his kindness defused a dangerous situation. When a man armed with a huge knife entered the Huay Kwang police station in Bangkok, Thailand, officer Anirut Malee did something unexpected: he tried to reason with him gently before reaching out for a hug. The incident took place on June 17, according to local reports. A video that has since gone viral shows Mr Malee talking to the assailant calmly, sitting opposite him.
He eventually convinces him to hand his knife over, and then walks over to give him a big hug.
After the hug, the assailant is led to a chair where he sits down and appears to be thanking the officer.
"He used to be a musician but had been working as a security guard for three days and had not been paid. On top of this he had had his guitar stolen and it was all stressing him out," Mr Malee said of the unnamed assailant, according to Thai Visa News. "I heard him out and sympathized and said I had a guitar to give him, and suggested we go out for a meal together. We were conversing in Southern Thai dialect."
The man was sent to a hospital for an evaluation of his mental state, and no charges were filed, according to Thai Visa News.
He eventually convinces him to hand his knife over, and then walks over to give him a big hug.
After the hug, the assailant is led to a chair where he sits down and appears to be thanking the officer.
"He used to be a musician but had been working as a security guard for three days and had not been paid. On top of this he had had his guitar stolen and it was all stressing him out," Mr Malee said of the unnamed assailant, according to Thai Visa News. "I heard him out and sympathized and said I had a guitar to give him, and suggested we go out for a meal together. We were conversing in Southern Thai dialect."
The man was sent to a hospital for an evaluation of his mental state, and no charges were filed, according to Thai Visa News.
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