Man arrested after shooting police officer in Riga

A 37-year-old man has been arrested in Riga after for firing a gas pistol on police officer on Dec. 4 , police say.  

Police officers carried out one of its regular visits to a legal narcotics shop on Krisjana Barona Iela when the incident happened. After visiting the shop, an employees shot at a police officer with a gas pistol and locked himself inside the shop, reports LETA.

If convicted, the man could face of prison sentence of up to five years.

Later, police officers were called to the scene and forcibly entered the shop. Three persons inside the shop were detained, including two 18 year olds. The police officer was not hurt in the incident.

The shop's inventory was also taken out for testing. If any banned substances are found, the men could face criminal sentences for distributing illegal narcotics.

Since Oct. 1, Riga Municipal Police officers have been carrying out regular inspections at legal narcotics shops throughout the city.

Hundreds of activists stormed various legal drug outlets earlier this year in an effort to raise awareness of the negative effect of the drugs on young people.