Drunk off-duty police officer kills man in Priekule, Latvia

On 26 July, the State Police received a report that a conflict had broken out between several people during the town festival in Priekule, resulting in one man sustaining physical injuries. Paramedics from the Emergency Medical Service arrived to assist, but the man died in the ambulance. Police officers at the scene arrested a junior inspector of the State Police, who was under the influence of alcohol, on suspicion of committing a criminal offence. The detainee was not on duty at the time. The State Police have initiated criminal proceedings in relation to the incident under Section 125(3) of the Criminal Law for the intentional infliction of grievous bodily harm, which, due to the perpetrator’s negligence, resulted in the victim’s death. The case files will be transferred to the Internal Security Bureau for investigation, in accordance with jurisdictional rules.