THIS is the shocking moment an actor was allegedly pepper-sprayed and kicked by cops in front of his screaming mum.
Reece Richards, who portrayed Eugene on Netflix’s Sex Education, claims he was the “victim of an unlawful arrest and police misconduct” in Fulham, West London, on September 4.
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The incident is said to have taken place “just yards” from the star’s front door in the early hours of the morning after he returned from performing in Hairspray the Musical in the West End.
Richards alleges that he witnessed a car crash and two males fleeing the scene before police mistook him for being involved in the smash.
He says he directed the force in the direction of one man telling them “he ran down there officer” but the cop instead said he was under arrest.
In a video he shared on Instagram, the model appears to be told to “stay where you are” by an officer threatening him with pepper spray.
Richards, who also played Kenneth in You, says he was then “kicked” and “handcuffed” with footage showing four cops on top of him.
In the recording, the performer can be heard in distress and shouting in pain on the pavement as more officers attended.
In a statement posted to social media, Richards wrote: “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.
“I couldn’t see anything, but I could hear my mum nearby, screaming and crying, begging them to let me go.”
“That feeling of helplessness will never leave me,” he added.
“The whole experience was embarrassing, deeply upsetting, and exhausting.”
Brenda Edwards, Layton Williams and This Morning’s Dr Ranj have all reposted the actor’s story.
Richards says officers agreed to release him after reviewing body cam footage.
He also said their “attitude shifted” when family friend and daytime TV host Brenda arrived following a call from his mother.
But he alleges he hasn’t been able to access body cam footage again despite lodging formal complaints with the IOPC and Metropolitan Police.
A Met 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 dearrested 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.
“A complaint has been received in relation to his arrest.
“This is currently being assessed by officers from the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS), along with other material including the officers’ body worn video footage.
“None of the officers involved are subject to restrictions at this time.”
As Eugene in Netflix’s huge hit Sex Education, Reece played the love interest of Vivienne “Viv” Odusanya, played by Chinenye Ezeudu.
He has played West End roles as Jackie Wilson and Marvin Gaye in Motown: The Musical.
He is also a professional dancer, amateur athlete and model and has appeared in commercials for JD Sports, Ted Baker and Not On The High Street.
Reece Richards’ Full Statement
On Wednesday, 4th September, between 12:38 am and 2:30 am, I was the victim of an unlawful arrest and police misconduct in Fulham, just yards from my front door.
I’ve heard stories about incidents like this, but I never imagined it would happen to me. This is my story.
I had just finished performing in Hairspray the Musical when a car crashed near me.
Two men—one White and one Asian-jumped out; one started running in one direction; and the other ran toward me where I stood with my suitcase.
Realising the police were chasing them, I shouted, “He ran down there, officer,” and pointed out the direction they fled.
Despite hearing me, the officer shouted that I was under arrest and demanded I get on the ground.
I was confused, unable to understand why I was suddenly being treated like a criminal.
Calmly, I explained that | 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.
I couldn’t see anything, but I could hear my mum nearby, screaming and crying, begging them to let me go.
Although I couldn’t see her, her distress was clear, so I asked her to call Brenda Edwards, the director of Hairspray, a family friend and well-known daytime TV host.
Brenda arrived around 20 minutes later, and immediately, the officers’ attitude shifted. After reviewing body cam footage, they agreed to release me.
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.
At the time, I was carrying a 23 kg suitcase and a backpack and was on Face Time with some of my cast from Hairspray.
The whole experience was embarrassing, deeply upsetting, and exhausting. It has left me questioning everything I thought I knew about justice.
Suddenly, my understanding of right and wrong feels completely upended.
I’ve lodged formal complaints with the IOPC and Met Police, but so far, I’ve been unable to access the body cam or CCTV footage.
What I seek is accountability for how I was treated and to raise awareness that incidents like this are still happening.
I want police policy to change because this is happening way too often, and it’s just wrong.
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.
If anyone can offer advice on the next steps or legal guidance, I would be incredibly grateful. Thank you for taking the time to hear my story.