US citizen put in 2-month pre-trial detention, Russian court says

U.S. citizen Joseph Tater, accused of petty hooliganism, attends a court hearing in Moscow

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Russian court has put U.S. citizen Joseph Tater in pre-trial detention until Oct. 14, the court said on Thursday.

The American is accused of violence against a policeman, the court added.

On Wednesday, a court sentenced Tater to 15 days in jail for petty hooliganism.

Russian news agency Interfax had previously reported that Tater was detained on Aug. 12 for hooliganism and subsequently assaulted a police officer, leading to a separate criminal case being opened against him.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Hugh Lawson)