Homeless man arrested after Chinese Consulate wall defaced in Chiang Mai
A man, who police say may have a mental illness, was arrested on Monday for allegedly defacing a wall at the Chinese Consulate in Chiang Mai’s Muang district with spray paint.
Chiang Mai police chief Pol Maj-General Phichet Jiranantasin said the man was found lying on the sidewalk of Mahidol Road near Kanchana Park and was arrested after consular officials filed a complaint with police on Monday.
A man could be seen on security camera footage defacing two spots of the wall.
A can of spray paint was found in the man’s bag, police alleged, and he was taken to the Muang Chiang Mai police station for questioning. Officers said his replies could not be understood and they suspected he might have a mental disorder.
Phichet said police learned that the wall defacing had nothing to do with politics or the protests in Hong Kong, and the homeless man was unable to give his permanent address.
Police will send him for psychiatric testing at Suan Prung Hospital. If doctors confirmed his mental disorder, he would be sent for treatment, Phichet said.