Reece Richards: Police probe actor's mistaken pepper-spray arrest

Mr. Richards has submitted an official complaint to both the police and the agency that oversees them.

The Metropolitan Police are looking into the wrongful arrest of an actor who claims he was sprayed with pepper spray, kicked, and forcefully thrown to the ground by officers in west London.

Reece Richards, known for his role in the Netflix series Sex Education, was heading back to Fulham on September 4 after finishing a performance of the musical Hairspray. During his journey, he claims to have seen a car accident and two men running away on foot.

Even though he indicated where the two men had run off to, he claims that four officers tackled him to the ground, making his injuries to his back, ribs, and stomach even worse.

The police department has acknowledged that they used pepper spray and stated that their professional standards division, which looks into complaints, has been notified.

The Metropolitan Police stated that their officers were chasing a vehicle believed to be stolen and using fake license plates prior to the incident with Mr. Richards, who has claimed that the police engaged in "racial profiling."

Scotland Yard clarified that prior to Mr. Richards being released from arrest on Fulham Palace Road, a Taser was aimed at him, although it was not used.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which oversees police activities, stated that it currently has no knowledge of any referral from the Metropolitan Police.

A video posted by Mr. Richards and Hairspray director Brenda Edwards seems to depict several police officers restraining a person on the ground.

In a post on Instagram, Mr. Richards mentioned that he had lodged complaints with both the Metropolitan Police and the police oversight body regarding what he described as "racial profiling" during the incident that occurred in the early hours of September 4th.

The actor recounted, "In an instant, I found myself lying face-first on the pavement, with several officers pinning me down and pressing my head into the ground."

I couldn't see anything around me, but I could hear my mom close by, shouting and sobbing, pleading with them to free me.

I'll always carry that sense of powerlessness with me. The entire ordeal was humiliating, truly distressing, and incredibly draining.

"I won’t stop until I uncover the truth, and I truly feel for anyone else who has experienced something similar."

He mentioned, "I try my best to steer clear of any encounters with law enforcement, but this experience has highlighted just how prevalent racial profiling still is."

The Hairspray UK Tour's Instagram page shared: "We completely support Reece Richards, a respected member of our cast, who was unfairly approached by the Met Police while heading home after a show of Hairspray the Musical."

It stated that it "firmly denounces all types of racism" and is "providing him with complete support as he navigates this challenging period."

The Metropolitan Police reported that a 15-year-old driver was detained at the location for not stopping, driving recklessly, and committing burglary.

Scotland Yard reported that two passengers, aged 20 and 21, had fled the scene but were soon found not far away.

Both individuals were apprehended on charges related to stealing a vehicle, and the 20-year-old was additionally taken into custody for allegedly carrying a sharp or pointed weapon.

As a safety measure, all three individuals were transported to the hospital where their injuries were evaluated and found to be neither life-threatening nor severe.