A man in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta has been taken into police custody as he allegedly decapitated a neighbor and slashed an official who was trying to catch him.

Nguyen Thanh Tam, a 48-year-old resident of Sa Dec, a city in Dong Thai Province, has been apprehended on suspicion of murder, Nguyen Chi Cong – the city’s police chief – said on Sunday.

According to preliminary investigation, people in the area found a decapitated body at around 5:50 pm on Saturday.

Police officers found the head lying about 25 meters away and blood traces led them to the house of Tam, who was drunk at the time.

Nguyen Thanh Tam is seen in police custody in Sa Dec City, Dong Thap Province, southern Vietnam, April 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The man shut the door and brandishing two large knives inside after being advised to turn himself in to local authorities.

Facing his stubbornness, Pham Van Minh, a lieutenant colonel, broke into the house only to be assaulted by Tam.

The officer was taken to a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, more than 160km away, to have a deep cut into his arm treated, and his two detached finger bones replanted but to no avail.

Tam was educated by the government between 2010 and 2011 for his antisocial behavior and attitude.

Police are probing the case further.

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