The death of a man who was shot dead near a Derby police station has been described as a "strange occurrence". A source at The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said investigators were trying to establish if Marius Ciolac "said anything threatening" before the incident.
The Telegraph reported the comments from an unnamed source at the IOPC, which has launched an independent investigation following the tradesman's death, reports Derbyshire Live. The 35-year-old was shot after he was reportedly seen brandishing a blade in the secure car park of the Ascot Drive police station on Friday, October 7. He later died of his wounds.
The IOPC source told the Telegraph: “He had not physically harmed anyone and we are trying to establish if he had said anything threatening. He was carrying a blade, but it has not been ascertained whether it was a knife or a sword as has been reported in the media."
Read more: Man shot dead by officers near Derby police station named
The source added: "We have declared an independent inquiry. It is a strange occurrence that this man was killed." Mr Ciolac was due to appear in court over an accusation he had attacked someone.
He had pleaded not guilty to a charge of "assault by beating" which was alleged to have happened on February 9, 2021. He was due to appear at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court, in Derby's St Mary's Gate, earlier this week but court lists suggest the case may have been postponed to December.
The same documents suggest the alleged incident happened near his home address and may have involved a neighbour.
A Derbyshire Police spokeswoman revealed Mr Ciolac's name on Sunday after Derbyshire Live put his unconfirmed identity to the force. She said: "On Friday at 9.55am officers reported seeing a man armed with a knife in the secure car park of Ascot Drive Police Station, off Ascot Drive in Derby. During the incident a window was smashed at the police station. Armed officers were sent to the scene and a police firearm was then discharged. Officers administered first aid until paramedics attended the scene, and the man was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
"The man has been named as 35-year-old Marius Ciolac of Osmaston Road in Derby. His next of kin has been informed."
An official IOPC statement released after Mr Ciolac's death said: "The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is independently investigating a fatal police shooting outside Ascot Drive police station in Derby this morning (Friday). We were advised by Derbyshire Constabulary that at around 9.55 am officers inside the station reported they had seen a man carrying a knife inside the station car park.
"Armed officers went to the scene and a police firearm was discharged at approximately 10.03 am. The man was taken by ambulance to hospital in Nottingham where he was sadly later pronounced dead.
"Our investigators are at the scene to begin our enquiries and at the police post-incident procedures where the officers involved are providing their initial accounts. We can confirm at this stage that a knife has been recovered from the scene. We understand the man has not yet been identified."
Derrick Campbell, IOPC regional director added: “Our thoughts are with all of those affected by this tragic incident. It is vital there is an independent investigation into all of the circumstances that resulted in this man’s death.
"I would like to reassure people that we will conduct a thorough and detailed investigation into what took place. Our enquiries are in their very early stages.”
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