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Footballer Ben Richards-Everton claims he was threatened with Taser after being handcuffed during police stop outside shops

BBC
BBC

This is the moment a footballer was handcuffed and allegedly confronted with a Taser after being stopped by police who wanted to search his car.

Ben Richards-Everton, who plays for Bradford City, was detained by officers in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, as he visited some shops near his mother's house.

In a video filmed by the sportsman's girlfriend, Mr Richards-Everton asks why he is being handcuffed and why a Taser is being pointed at him.

West Midlands Police said the footballer was stopped because the vehicle, a Range Rover, "flagged up with warning markers for drugs and firearms" but are working under the theory that his number plate was cloned.

He released with no further action after the search.

The footballer was handcuffed by police in June (BBC)
The footballer was handcuffed by police in June (BBC)

The footage, shared with the BBC, starts with an officer saying "Right I am going to cuff you". The football player responds by saying that his detention is "disgraceful".

As Mr Richards-Everton is handcuffed, he adds: "With what is going on right now... and you are doing this to me? When I'm fully legal. What... 'cause I have a nice car?"

He then turns to face another officer and adds: "You pointing a Taser at me?" to which the policeman replies: "I didn't point it at you."

The girlfriend can be heard off-camera saying: "Yes you did".

Mr Richards-Everton asks why he is being detained (BBC)
Mr Richards-Everton asks why he is being detained (BBC)

The footballer then says: "Well why did you put me in cuffs for?"

The officer doesn't answer the question but speaking about the Taser adds: "It wasn't pointing at you. It was out, but it wasn't pointing at you".

The policeman continues: "Be careful what you say - say the right thing" but is interrupted by Mr Richards-Everton, who says: "No, I'll do what I want. I don't care - get your hands off me."

The officer can then be heard saying: "Don't make things up, say the right thing", to which the football player responds: "You hate us 'cause I'm driving a nice car. Seen you from a mile off, man."

The footballer was later released without 'further action' (BBC)
The footballer was later released without 'further action' (BBC)

Officers, who are filmed searching the black 4X4 vehicle, did not find any illegal goods in the vehicle.

Speaking to the police after the search, his girlfriend said that the stop felt "very dramatic to come at us like that" when the pair were leaving a shop and following officers' directions.

"To act like that a put him in cuffs and have the Taser - it was appalling, " she said.

A policeman replies off-camera and adds: "We don't know if he has anything on him or not, do we?"

A West Midlands police spokeswoman later told the Standard: "Officers on patrol in Sutton Coldfield spotted a car which flagged up with warning markers for drugs and firearms.

"The car parked up and officers approached the driver in Walmsley Road just after 6pm on June 24. The driver was detained while officers carried out a search of the car.

"Nothing was found in the car and it’s now thought that the number plates, which sparked the suspicion, are cloned."

The spokeswoman added that the footballer was "advised of the reason for the search" and released with no further action.

"Given the intelligence around potential firearms one of the officers drew a Taser. It was put away shortly after without being used," she said.

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