Police Chief Orders Investigation Into Video of Officer Striking Teen

The superintendent of Ban Pet Police Station has ordered an investigation into a viral video showing a traffic police officer striking a teenager on the head until bleeding. The incident allegedly occurred near Nong Koet Marsh in Ban Pet subdistrict, Mueang Khon Kaen district. On August 1, 2026, a Facebook post titled "Khon Kaen Has a Channel, Tell Me Too" shared a video clip showing a traffic officer standing next to a motorcycle with a teenager sitting on it. The officer then used his left hand to strike the teenager's head forcefully, causing visible injury, while saying "What's up?" The exact date and time of the incident were not specified in the post. Investigation of the location revealed an artificial sandy beach area on the northern side of Nong Koet Marsh, where large groups of teenagers frequently gather at night to drink alcohol. This prompted the traffic police unit at Ban Pet Station to conduct regular patrols to prevent crime, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights. Pol. Col. Phakaphoom Dechareungsil, superintendent of Ban Pet Police Station, stated that he only recently learned of the incident from media reports and will conduct a thorough investigation into the facts and circumstances. He noted that a short video clip provides insufficient context to understand what prompted the officer's actions. Pol. Col. Phakaphoom added that he will request detailed information from his deputy before taking further action. If the officer is confirmed to be under his command, a fact-finding committee will be established immediately, but he requested time to first verify the video.