A 46-year-old Thai migrant worker was arrested following a violent early-morning incident in Hualien’s Xincheng area on April 5, during which he allegedly stole from a convenience store, brandished a knife, and attacked members of the public and police officers.
The incident began around 5am when the suspect reportedly entered a convenience store in Kangle Village and stole two hot dogs before fleeing the scene while carrying a fruit knife. He was later seen behaving aggressively towards passers-by and attempting to chase a woman on a scooter.
Police launched a large-scale pursuit involving more than 10 officers, as the suspect ran along the provincial highway for nearly 3 kilometres. During the chase, he allegedly jumped onto a lorry, confronted officers, and continued to throw objects and wield weapons in an attempt to evade capture.
Footage and witness accounts indicated chaotic scenes as the man moved between vehicles, at one point even running in his underwear while evading officers who attempted to restrain him using helmets, traffic cones and restraint tools.
The pursuit escalated further when the suspect allegedly broke into a barber shop and later a nearby residence, where three civilians were injured. In total, four police officers and three members of the public sustained injuries during the incident, though none were reported to be in life-threatening condition.
After the extended chase, the man was eventually cornered inside a building and arrested in a fourth-floor bathroom. He was later taken to hospital under police supervision for treatment of multiple injuries sustained during the confrontation.
Authorities confirmed that the suspect is an undocumented migrant worker, and investigations are ongoing into the full circumstances surrounding the rampage and initial offences that triggered the pursuit.
