Reece Richards, an actor known for his role as Eugene in Netflix’s Sex Education, has claimed he was the victim of police misconduct during a confrontation in Fulham, West London, on September 4. Richards alleges that he was wrongfully arrested after witnessing a car crash and attempting to assist police officers by providing information.
The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning as Richards was returning home from performing in Hairspray the Musical in the West End. The actor stated that he witnessed two men flee the scene of the crash, which took place near his home. After telling officers the direction in which one of the men had run, Richards says he was unexpectedly placed under arrest.
In a video posted to Instagram, Richards can be heard being told by an officer to “stay where you are,” while being threatened with pepper spray. The footage then shows officers forcibly restraining him, with multiple officers on top of him, handcuffing him while he lay face-down on the pavement.
In a statement accompanying the video, Richards described the event: “They pepper-sprayed me, kicked my legs out from under me, threw me to the ground, and handcuffed me.” He further detailed the impact of the arrest, explaining that he was already injured from his performance but that the physical restraint from four officers aggravated his injuries to his back, ribs, and stomach.
Richards also noted the distress caused to his mother, who was present at the scene. He stated: “I couldn’t see anything, but I could hear my mum nearby, screaming and crying, begging them to let me go.”
The actor has accused the officers involved of police misconduct and an unlawful arrest. The footage of the incident has garnered widespread attention online, sparking concern over the actions of the police during the arrest.
