Reece Richards Role in Sex Education: Actor Allegedly “Unlawfully Arrested” After Police Encounter with Mother

Reece Richards has accused The Metropolitan Police of racial profiling after he was allegedly pepper sprayed, kicked, and wrongfully handcuffed in front of his mother. This incident reportedly took place near his residence in Fulham, West London, on September 4, 2024, as the actor was returning home from his performance in Hairspray the Musical.

The actor claimed he witnessed a car accident, and the police mistakenly identified him as one of the suspects. In an official statement following the alleged incident, Richards stated:

“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 away from my front door. I’ve heard stories about incidents like this, but I never imagined it would happen to me.”

He continued,

“They pepper-sprayed me, kicked my legs out from under me, threw me to the ground, and handcuffed me.”

Reece Richards is known for portraying Eugene in the Netflix series Sex Education. He played Vivienne “Viv”Odusanya’s long-distance boyfriend in season 3.

While not much is revealed about Eugene, viewers only see his relationship with Viv through their text messages. Richards made an appearance in the final episode of season 3, and in season 4, it is disclosed that Viv broke up with Eugene to concentrate on her studies.

Reece Richards alleged that four officers restrained him

In a public statement, Reece Richards recounted the incident detailing that he was returning home from work when he observed a car crash. He claimed that three men (two white and one Asian) exited the vehicle and fled the scene.

After noticing the police were pursuing the men, Richards informed the officers about their direction. However, he alleged that the police misidentified him as one of the suspects, leading them to declare his arrest and instruct him to lie on the ground.

Richards attempted to explain that he was not part of the incident but reported that police refused to listen, threatening to pepper spray him if he did not comply.

“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 I was a performer returning from a show, but one officer yelled, ‘Get to the floor or I’ll pepper spray you,’”Reece Richards stated.

Reece Richards added that four officers rushed towards him, pepper sprayed him, and then proceeded to kick and handcuff him, resulting in injuries to his back, ribs, and stomach. He recalled hearing his mother nearby and requested her to call Brenda Edwards, a well-known TV personality and director of Hairspray. After she arrived at the scene 20 minutes later, the police released Richards.

Reece Richards requested an investigation by The Met Police

Reece Richards expressed that the incident left him feeling embarrassed, upset, and exhausted. He announced that he had lodged a complaint with the Met Police and the IOPC, seeking accountability and raising awareness about the implications of racial profiling.

According to the Mirror, a spokesperson for the Met Police responded to the allegations.

“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,”the spokesperson stated.

They further added that Richards was an innocent bystander caught in the situation and was “dearrested”as soon as the officers understood his role.

In addition to his role in Sex Education, Reece Richards is recognized for his performance as Kenneth in the Netflix psychological thriller You. He is also a talented theatre actor, professional dancer, and model.

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