▲ The scene of the escape by a suspect who threatened others with a toy gun
A man in his 50s, who was captured by police after fleeing about 50 kilometers in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, on the 29th, was found to have threatened a temple official with a toy gun while intoxicated before fleeing and being subdued with a Taser gun.
Jinju Police Station announced on the 30th that they have apprehended and are investigating a man in his 50s, surnamed A, on charges including special intimidation, special obstruction of official duties, and drunk driving under the Road Traffic Act.
A is accused of threatening a temple official in his 50s with a toy gun he was carrying in the parking lot of a temple in Chojeon-dong, Jinju, at 2:50 p.m. on the 29th.
Immediately after the crime, he attempted to flee in a passenger car, hitting another temple official in his 50s who tried to block his path, and then fled the scene.
The temple official who was struck by the car reportedly sustained injuries.
Police investigations revealed that A was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crime and had no prior acquaintance with the victims.
Responding to a report stating, "A strange person is telling me to get into a vehicle," the police rushed to the scene, blocked A's escape route, and engaged in a pursuit spanning approximately 50 kilometers.
While fleeing, A strongly resisted by consecutively ramming into three patrol cars and one detective squad vehicle.
Police completely blocked A's escape route near the Naengjeong Intersection in Jiphyeon-myeon, Jinju, and fired two blank rounds and four live rounds to force the vehicle to a stop.
They then smashed the driver's side window with a baton and fired a Taser gun to ultimately subdue and apprehend A.
During this process, five police officers were injured, and four police vehicles and one civilian vehicle were damaged.
According to the police investigation, the toy gun carried by A was identified as an 87-centimeter-long BB gun, and his blood alcohol concentration at the time of capture was 0.076 percent, which falls under the level for license suspension.
A's motive for visiting the temple and committing the crime has not yet been confirmed.
A police official stated, "We plan to investigate A regarding how he came to possess the toy gun and his motive for the crime, and then apply for an arrest warrant."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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