Sex Education actor claims he was pepper sprayed in ‘unlawful arrest’

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Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

Sex Education actor Reece Richards has claimed he was pepper sprayed and thrown to the ground in “an unlawful arrest” when he was mistakenly detained during a police chase.

The actor, who plays Eugene in the hit Netflix series, said the incident took place in Fulham, west London, “just yards from my front door” after he had finished performing in a production of Hairspray The Musical.

Loose Women star Brenda Edwards, who is the director of the show, has alleged he was “racially profiled and violated”.

In an Instagram post, Richards said: “I had just finished performing in Hairspray the Musical when a car crashed near me.”

Richards explained that two men jumped out of the vehicle so he pointed out to the police the direction in which they had fled.

The officer then shouted to Richards that he was under arrest and “demanded” he get to the ground, according to the actor.

“I was confused, unable to understand why I was suddenly being treated like a criminal”, he said.

“Calmly, I explained that I was a performer returning from a show, but one officer yelled, ‘Get to the floor or I’ll pepper spray you.’

“Moments later, three more officers ran at me. They pepper sprayed me, kicked my legs out from under me, threw me to the ground and handcuffed me.

“In a flash, I was face-down on the pavement with multiple officers holding me down, forcing my head into the ground.

“I was already injured from the show, but having four officers on top of me worsened my injuries to my back, ribs and stomach.”

He added: “I couldn’t see anything, but I could hear my mum nearby, screaming and crying, begging them to let me go.”

Richards said his mother called Edwards, who is a family friend, and she arrived around 20 minutes later.

“After reviewing bodycam footage, they (the police officers) agreed to release me,” he said.

“That feeling of helplessness will never leave me.

“I’ve been stopped and searched before, but never have I been arrested or treated like this.

“Witnesses have since told me that the culprits were also handcuffed but were not pepper sprayed.”

Richards said he was FaceTiming his Hairspray cast members when the arrest took place.

“It has left me questioning everything I thought I knew about justice”, he said.

“Suddenly, my understanding of right and wrong feels completely upended.”

The arrest took place on September 4 between 12.38am and 2.30am, according to Richards.

A video, shared by Richards and Edwards, appears to show a number of police officers holding an individual to the floor.

The actor said he has lodged formal complaints with the Metropolitan Police and Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and added that he is asking for “accountability” and “to raise awareness that incidents like this are still happening”.

He added: “The whole experience was embarrassing, deeply upsetting, and exhausting.

“I do everything I can to avoid interactions with the police, yet this experience has made it painfully clear that racial profiling remains a significant issue.

“Being surrounded by armed police for no reason is a terrifying and traumatic experience.”

In an Instagram statement, Edwards said: “@reecejrichards who is currently playing one of the leads in my @hairsprayuktour production and has never been in trouble with the law, was racially profiled and violated, just after getting back to London from me watching him and the fabulous cast in Milton Keynes.

“He told the Police that he had just performed in Milton Keynes so it couldn’t be him and the fact he had a massive suitcase with him and the cast on FaceTime was totally ignored!!!

“This was such a distressing experience to witness. Conversations sadly still need to be had.”

The Metropolitan Police said a complaint has been received in relation to Richards’ arrest and is being assessed.

A force spokesperson said: “We are aware of a video circulating on social media of a man being detained in the Fulham area.

“Officers often find themselves in dynamic, challenging situations and have to make split-second judgements on which course of action to take.

“Officers had been pursuing three men who had run out of a car that had crashed in Fulham Palace Road after it failed to stop for police.

“It is clear the man shown in the footage was an innocent bystander and he was de-arrested as soon as this was established by officers at the scene.

“All officers know any use of force must be proportionate and reasonable and they understand their actions will be scrutinised.

“None of the officers involved are subject to restrictions at this time.”