Drunk police officer kills man in Priekule

RIGA - A drunk police officer killed a man while off duty during a public event at weekend, State Police spokesperson Madara Sersnova told LETA.

On July 26, the State Police received a report that a conflict had broken out among several people during the town festival in Priekule, resulting in bodily injury to one man.

Paramedics from the Emergency Medical Service arrived to provide assistance, but the man died in the ambulance.

Police officers at the scene detained a junior inspector of the State Police, who was under the influence of alcohol, on suspicion of committing a criminal offense. The detainee was not performing his official duties at the time.

The State Police have initiated criminal proceedings regarding the incident under Section 125, Paragraph 3, regarding the intentional infliction of serious bodily injury, which, due to the perpetrator’s negligence, resulted in the victim’s death. The case materials will be transferred to the Internal Security Bureau for investigation, in accordance with jurisdictional authority.

According to the website liepajniekiem.lv, the victim was a teacher at the Liepaja Secondary School of Music, Art, and Design. The incident occurred near the Priekule Cultural Center. Eyewitnesses reported that the assailant "knocked the victim down with a single blow". Paramedics attempted to resuscitate the victim for about half an hour, but were unsuccessful.

Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs (United List) emphasized on social media that the tragic event in Priekule is unacceptable. He discussed the situation with Interior Minister Janis Dombrava (National Alliance), who "will take action to ensure that the case is investigated objectively and fairly and that the perpetrator is held accountable", and that there will be "no leniency and no exceptions".