Actor Reece Richards claims police pepper sprayed him as he returned home from show

An actor has asserted that he suffered from "police misconduct" after reportedly being sprayed with pepper spray during what he calls an "illegal arrest."

Reece Richards, known for his role in the popular Netflix series Sex Education and currently performing in Hairspray The Musical, recounted an incident on September 4. After a show in Fulham, southwest London, he found himself on the ground during a police pursuit.

He mentioned that the event clearly highlighted that racial profiling continues to be a major problem.

In reaction to a social media post and video footage, the Metropolitan Police stated that their officers were chasing three individuals who fled a vehicle that crashed after not halting for the police.

The police stated that officers frequently encounter fast-paced and difficult situations where they must make quick decisions about their next steps. They mentioned that a complaint is currently under review, along with other evidence such as footage from police body cameras.

According to the police statement, once the officers on the scene confirmed that the man in the video had no involvement in the incident, he was quickly released from custody.

"I was lying flat on the ground."

In his article, Richards shared that he experienced an "unlawful arrest and police misconduct... just steps away from my home."

He mentioned that he saw two men fleeing from a vehicle and called out to the police for assistance. However, he claimed the officers responded by saying he was being arrested and ordered him to lie down on the ground.

"I felt lost and couldn't grasp why I was being treated like a criminal out of the blue," he shared. He recounted that after supposedly being ordered to lie on the ground, "three additional officers rushed towards me. They sprayed me with pepper spray, knocked my legs out from underneath me, slammed me to the ground, and placed me in handcuffs."

In an instant, I found myself lying on the ground with several officers pinning me down, pressing my face against the pavement.

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Richards mentioned that he could hear his mother "yelling and sobbing" in the vicinity, so he requested her to get in touch with Brenda Edwards, the Loose Women personality and director of Hairspray The Musical.

She showed up at the location, and the police, after reviewing the bodycam video, reportedly decided to let him go, according to the actor.

Edwards posted a message on Instagram that was also shared by the official account of the Hairspray production, expressing: "We completely support and stand with Reece Richards, an important member of our cast, who was unfairly targeted by the Metropolitan Police while heading home after a performance of Hairspray The Musical."

"We firmly oppose all types of racism and discrimination."

Richards gained fame for his role as Eugene in two episodes of *Sex Education*, which also features Gillian Anderson, Ncuti Gatwa, Emma Mackey, and Asa Butterfield. Additionally, he was seen in *You*, alongside Penn Badgley.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which oversees policing in England and Wales, has acknowledged the complaint and has reached out to the Metropolitan Police to talk about possibly launching a more in-depth investigation.

In a further comment shared with Sky News, the Metropolitan Police indicated that it was "obvious that the individual seen in the video was an innocent bystander, and he was released from custody right after officers on the scene confirmed this."

The statement went on to say, "Every officer is aware that any application of force needs to be appropriate and sensible, and they recognize that their actions will be closely examined."

The Metropolitan Police stated that their Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) is currently reviewing a complaint. They also noted that none of the officers involved are facing any restrictions at the moment.