'Reasonable force' used during arrest of actor
The star of Netflix's Sex Education said he was pepper sprayed, thrown to the ground and kicked when he was arrested in Fulham, west London, in September. Officers had mistaken him for a criminal suspect.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) also did not uphold a complaint by Mr Richards that he was treated in a discriminatory manner because he was black, and said no officers would be disciplined.
The Met Police said it was "pleased" with the decision but acknowledged the incident must have been "distressing" for the actor.
Mr Richards said he was on his way home from a West End performance of Hairspray the Musical on 4 September, when he said he witnessed a car crash and two men running away.
When he pointed out to police the direction in which the two men had fled, he was was restrained by four officers who sat on him, worsening some existing injuries, he said.
Mr Richards and his mother later complained to the IOPC, claiming false arrest and racial profiling.
The IOPC's director Amanda Rowe acknowledged that the incident would have had an impact on the actor.
"He was an innocent bystander and this would have been a frightening experience," she said. "Mr Richards' complaint detailed his understandable belief that he was detained and arrested because he was black, although the suspects were white.
"We found that officers were responding to a fast-moving incident and - given the only description of the suspects was that one was wearing dark clothing and their location - it was reasonable that the officer who saw Mr Richards and detained him thought he was a suspect.
"The evidence indicated that the officers' use of force was reasonable in the circumstances they encountered... and Mr Richards was de-arrested as soon officers confirmed he was not involved."
Officer investigated over Netflix actor's arrest
Sex Education actor's arrest to be investigated
Police probe actor's mistaken pepper-spray arrest
The officers were pursuing a car when the vehicle crashed and those inside ran off, the IOPC said.
The only description given to the officers was that one suspect was in dark clothing.
CCTV footage showed Mr Richards walking along Fulham Palace Road, near the collision, when one of the suspects ran past him, chased by an officer.
The actor dropped his backpack and ran, the watchdog said.
A lone officer then stopped Mr Richards, mistaking him for one of the suspects, before two more officers arrived and told him to get to the ground.
Following a "struggle", one of the officers used PAVA a synthetic pepper spray - on Mr Richards and he was handcuffed, the IOPC said, before being de-arrested a few minutes later.
The actor said on Instagram after the incident that he was the victim of an "unlawful arrest".
He added: "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'.
"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."
Met Police Cdr Owain Richards said: "We are pleased the IOPC was able to determine the officers acted in good faith and appropriately.
"This was a fast-moving incident during which they were trying to detain three men who had fled from police during a pursuit. Their use of force was reasonable in the circumstances.
"Mr Richards was swiftly de-arrested as soon as officers confirmed he was not a suspect, but we absolutely acknowledge how distressing it must have been to be caught up in such an incident."
Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk
Sex Education actor's arrest to be investigated
Independent Office for Police Conduct
Metropolitan Police
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
14 hours ago
- New York Post
Amy Bradley case hinges on ‘somebody remembering' as investigators hunt for new leads 27 years later: expert
The disappearance of a recent college graduate from her cruise ship stateroom nearly 27 years ago continues to baffle investigators as a new documentary hopes to breathe fresh air into the search for a woman who seemingly vanished into thin air. In March 1998, Amy Bradley embarked on a Royal Caribbean International cruise with her family for a seven-day trip to the tropics. The 23-year-old had recently graduated from college and was preparing to pursue a master's degree in sports psychology. Her story is now being revisited in the new three-part Netflix documentary series, titled 'Amy Bradley Is Missing.' On the evening before her disappearance, Bradley joined her brother Brad at the Rhapsody of the Seas nightclub, where the pair remained until the early morning hours of March 24. Bradley's father, Ron, last recalled seeing his daughter asleep on the cabin's balcony. Bradley vanished about a half an hour later, as the ship was preparing to dock in Curaçao. 5 An image of Amy Bradley. Courtesy of Netflix An extensive search for the recent college graduate ensued, but authorities were unable to locate Bradley. The vessel continued its scheduled stops and ultimately returned to Puerto Rico four days later. Countless rumors swirled around what happened to Bradley, including theories that she had fallen overboard and drowned, or that she had intentionally jumped to take her own life. Her parents, however, have never wavered from their belief that their daughter was kidnapped and could still be alive, according to the documentary. As the investigation into Bradley's death remained ongoing, Netherlands Antilles Coast Guard Lt. Sjoerd Soethout told reporters she could have fallen from the ship's balcony, The Associated Press reported. At the time, an FBI spokesperson said authorities had 'no evidence of foul play,' with the case ultimately running cold. 'There is decidedly little evidence of a fall or push, nor would there be,' Peter Valentin, chair of the Forensic Science Department at the University of New Haven and a former Connecticut State Police detective, told Fox News Digital. 'There would be next to no evidence unless there would be a struggle prior to the push.' One year after Bradley's death, her parents filed two lawsuits against Royal Caribbean. The family claimed the cruise line acted negligently in the handling of their daughter's disappearance, with Royal Caribbean releasing a statement at the time insisting they acted 'appropriately and responsibly at all times.' 5 In March 1998, Amy Bradley embarked on a Royal Caribbean International cruise with her family for a seven-day trip to the tropics. Courtesy of Netflix The lawsuits were subsequently dismissed in 2000. Royal Caribbean did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. 'The room was cleaned before the FBI agents had access,' Valentin said. 'Whether they realized it or not, they de-emphasized the value of physical evidence in that room.' Years later, Bradley's family received a set of sexually explicit images of a woman from an adult website based in the Caribbean from an anonymous tipster, further solidifying her family's fears surrounding her being forced into sex trafficking. In the photos, the woman, identified as 'Jas,' posed provocatively while deliberately covering any identifiable markings, such as Bradley's tattoo of a Tasmanian Devil spinning a basketball. Investigators were also informed of alleged sightings of Bradley. 5 On the evening before her disappearance, Bradley joined her brother Brad at the Rhapsody of the Seas nightclub. Courtesy of Netflix Tourist Judy Maurer told the documentary that she witnessed a woman she believed to be Bradley while in a restroom in Barbados, before three men allegedly escorted the woman away. David Carmichael also told filmmakers he may have seen Bradley while visiting Curaçao, adding that she was 'flanked by two people.' Another Curaçao sighting was reported by Navy veteran Bill Hefner, who believes he saw a distressed Bradley at a local bar. However, Valentin is skeptical of the potential sightings. 'Eyewitnesses can become very convinced of what it is they say they saw, even though the forensic evidence makes it quite clear that they could not have seen what they said they saw,' Valentin told Fox News Digital. The former investigator added that the reported eyewitness accounts of Bradley should be compared to look for similarities. 'Combine it with other forensic techniques and electronic evidence and it certainly suggests that investigative efforts should be focusing on a particular area,' Valentin said. 5 Bradley's father, Ron, last recalled seeing his daughter asleep on the cabin's balcony. Courtesy of Netflix Additionally, investigators previously looked into Alastair 'Yellow' Douglas, a member of the ship's band who Bradley was seen dancing with hours before her disappearance. Valentin points to roadblocks facing authorities regarding the lack of electronic evidence at the time of Bradley's disappearance. 'Any connection between that musician and Bradley, however fleeting it might be, could be explored through the electronic evidence,' Valentin said. 'So this really is a generational leap in terms of what we're capable of doing now with electronic evidence.' Throughout the years, Douglas has vehemently denied any involvement in Bradley's disappearance. While questions still swirl surrounding how Bradley vanished from her stateroom within such a short timeframe, Valentin highlights a potential point of interest in answering what happened to the young woman. 'I would have been very keen to know if she was missing a pair of shoes, or did she take her shoes with her?' Valentin asked. 'If all the shoes are accounted for, that's an interesting observation because that actually makes it a little less likely for some of the scenarios that were discussed about her leaving on her own accord.' 5 At the time, an FBI spokesperson said authorities had 'no evidence of foul play,' with the case ultimately running cold. Courtesy of Netflix In 2017, the FBI previously released age-progressing images of Bradley with the hopes of igniting new leads within the search. Despite the numerous leads, authorities have never charged anyone with a crime relating to Bradley's disappearance. Valentin suggests the passage of time since Bradley's disappearance could encourage anyone with information to speak up. 'This case is one that I think is probably going to hinge on somebody remembering that they know something,' Valentin said. 'Because of this case reemerging in the public eye.' Anyone who believes they have information pertaining to Bradley's disappearance is asked to contact their local FBI office or the nearest American embassy or consulate. 'Amy Bradley Is Missing' is now streaming. Fox News Digital's Stephanie Nolasco and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
Police watchdog probing death of man in custody
The police watchdog has launched an investigation into the death of a man who was found unresponsive in police custody. Ellis Rocks was detained by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers at the Britannia Hotel in Almond Brook Road, Standish, Wigan, at about 8.35pm on Thursday, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said. Information indicates the 26-year-old was handcuffed and searched by officers at the scene before being transferred to custody, the watchdog added. Mr Rocks remained in custody overnight and an ambulance was called by detention officers at about 2.30am on Friday after he was seen to be unresponsive and lying on the floor of a cell. After paramedics arrived, he was taken to hospital but he suffered a cardiac arrest en route and resuscitation was commenced. Mr Rocks died in hospital at 7.20am on Sunday. After a mandatory referral from GMP, IOPC investigators were deployed in the early hours of Friday and an independent investigation was declared at 10.18am on Sunday. The watchdog has reviewed CCTV from the custody suite and body-worn video footage from officers involved in the arrest, it said. It has also been in touch with the force about receiving initial accounts from the officers. An IOPC spokesperson said: 'This was a tragic incident in which Mr Rocks has sadly died and our thoughts are with his family and loved ones. 'GMP referred this matter to us, and as he was in the custody of police at the time he became unwell, it is important there is a thorough and independent investigation. We will examine all relevant matters including the interaction officers had with Mr Rocks during his detention and what happened after he arrived at the custody suite. 'We have made contact with his family to explain our role and will update them as our inquiries progress.'
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Oasis fan falls to death at concert
An Oasis fan tragically fell to his death during the band's packed Wembley Stadium performance last night, with onlookers describing the "horrific" incident. The man, said to be in his 40s, is understood to have been seated in the venue's upper section when the fatal fall occurred at the 90,000-capacity arena. Paramedics raced to assist the individual but he was confirmed dead at the scene. The Met Police confirmed that officers responded to reports of an casualty at 10.19pm, near the conclusion of the group's comeback show. The force said that officers at Wembley found the man with "injuries consistent with a fall" and have appealed for any eyewitnesses or attendees with details regarding the incident to contact them, reports the Mirror. READ MORE: Police issue statement after fourth body found on beach in three days READ MORE: If you have a driving licence a big change is coming that will affect everyone in the UK Concert-goers posted on social media about witnessing the devastating moment. With others recounting when they saw emergency services rushing to the scene. A spokesperson for Wembley Stadium addressed the incident in a statement. They said: "Last night, Wembley Stadium medics, the London Ambulance Service and the police attended to a concert goer who was found with injuries consistent with a fall. Despite their efforts, the fan very sadly died. "Our thoughts go out to his family, who have been informed and are being supported by specially trained police officers. The Police have asked anyone who witnessed the incident to contact them. Tonight's Oasis concert will go ahead as planned." The Mirror has reached out to the Metropolitan Police and representatives for Oasis for further comments.
