Police have arrested two men and are searching for a third suspect of an assault and robbery of an American tourist in the beach resort town of Pattaya on Saturday. Pattaya police yesterday arrested two members of a gang on charges of assaulting and robbing Ted Dragen.

Theerapong Tonthong, 26, and Utai Runket, 23, were not volunteer police, as some eyewitnesses claimed. The third suspect, identified only as Joe, was still on the run last night, police said.

Mr Utai confessed to police that the three suspects were playing with a pocket knife on the beach when Mr Dragen walked past drinking beer and warned them it was dangerous. Mr Dragen then bought them all beers, he said.

However, after a few drinks a quarrel erupted and they attacked the tourist, police said. After Mr Dragen left, they saw his wallet on the ground and found 30,000 baht cash inside. Mr Utai insisted they did not plan to rob the tourist.

Police said the men looked like police because they were carrying two-way radios and handcuffs they stole from security guards before the attack.

But eyewitness Somkid Sira, 36, said she saw the three assault the tourist right after he walked past them.