This is the moment an actor claimed he was pepper-sprayed and kicked by police in front of his crying mother.
Reece Richards, who played Eugene in the Netflix show Sex Education, accused the Met Police of “racial profiling” and claimed he was the “victim of an illegal arrest” just meters from his home in Fulham, West London, September 4th.
The drama unfolded after Mr Richards was involved in a car crash on his way home from performing in Hairspray the Musical in the West End. Three men jumped out of the vehicle as police gave chase.
However, when Mr Richards apparently tried to tell officers which way the men escaped, he was mistaken for one of the suspects.
Footage shared on Instagram appears to show the actor being told to “stay where you are” as he is allegedly threatened with pepper spray.
He then claims to have been “cut off” and “handcuffed” by officers who briefly detained him. He was then arrested shortly after when it became clear that he was just a spectator.
The force confirmed it had received a complaint about the arrest which was being investigated by its Professional Standards department. However, no officers have been suspended or removed from work over the incident.
Reece Richards claims he was pepper sprayed and kicked by police during an “unlawful arrest”.
Mr Richards, who played Eugene in the hit Netflix show Sex Education (pictured above), accused the Met Police of “racial profiling”.
The actor appeared to be told to “stay where you are” by an officer who threatened him with pepper spray in footage captured nearby and later posted on Instagram.
Mr Richards (pictured) said the incident left him “confused” as he said he was “treated like a criminal”.
In a statement posted on social media, Mr Richards said: “I was confused, unable to understand why I had suddenly been treated like a criminal. I calmly explained that I was a performer returning from a performance, but an officer shouted, “Get on the floor or I’ll shoot you.”
“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 floor with several officers holding me down, forcing my head down.
“I was already injured from the show, but having four officers on top of me made my injuries to my back, ribs and stomach worse.
“I couldn’t see anything, but I heard my mother nearby, screaming and crying, begging her to let me go.”
The plaintiff says he was arrested after telling officers how the men involved in the accident escaped
The Met Police confirmed it had received a complaint about the arrest which was being investigated by its Professional Standards department. However, no officer has been suspended or removed from service over the incident
While in custody, he asked his mother to call family friend Brenda Edwards, the director of Hairspray and well-known TV host.
He claimed that after Ms Edwards arrived on the scene about 20 minutes later, the officer’s demeanor changed “immediately”.
Mr Richards added: “That feeling of helplessness will never leave me.
“I’ve been stopped and searched before, but I’ve never been arrested or treated like this.”
During the arrest, he was on FaceTime with some of the cast of Hairspray, the show he is currently starring in.
“The whole experience has been embarrassing, deeply upsetting and exhausting,” he added.
“It left me questioning everything I thought I knew about justice. Suddenly, my understanding of right and wrong felt completely shattered.
Describing the incident, Mr Richards said: “That feeling of helplessness will never leave me.”
A Met Police spokesman told MailOnline: ‘We are aware of a video circulating on social media of a man being arrested in the Fulham area.
“Officers often find themselves in dynamic, challenging situations and have to make split-second judgments about what course of action to take.
“Officers chased three men who fled from a car that crashed in Fulham Palace Road after it failed to stop for police.
“It is clear that the man shown in the footage was an innocent bystander and was arrested as soon as he was established by officers on the scene.
“All officers know that any use of force must be proportionate and reasonable and understand that their actions will be scrutinized.
“A complaint was 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 body-worn video footage.
“None of the officers involved are under any restraints at this time.”
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has been contacted by MailOnline.