1980s reggae star, who was awaiting trial for cocaine charges, dies from stab wounds, according to police
The police watchdog is investigating the death of the British reggae star Smiley Culture, who has died during a Metropolitan police raid.
The 48-year-old singer, whose real name was David Emmanuel, appears to have died on Tuesday from a stab wound sustained as officers visited his house to carry out an arrest warrant.
The Press Association news agency reported, citing sources, that the wound may have been self-inflicted.A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "As part of an ongoing operation officers from the Metropolitan police service's serious and organised crime command today attended a residential address in east Surrey to carry out an arrest warrant.
"While they were at the address, an incident occurred during which a 48-year-old man died. Officers from Surrey police attended the incident and it has been formally referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission."
The IPCC confirmed that it was looking into the death.
A spokeswoman told the Guardian: "The IPCC are independently investigating the death of a man at 7am this morning. Metropolitan police officers went to a house in Warlingham to make an arrest. While they were there, it seems that the man suffered a stab wound and it seems he died at the scene."
Emmanuel, who shot to fame in the 1980s with songs such as Cockney Translation and Police Officer, spoke to the Guardian last year about the legacy of his one of his most famous singles.
"Police Officer was a true story — the police used to take my weed. It was better than being arrested, and I made that into a hit … I was invited to meet the Queen, who said she listened to my records in the palace.
"Although I paved the way for people like the Streets and Dizzee Rascal, I left the music business because I wasn't rich."
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media 2011
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