Police officer nicknamed ‘lesbian nana’ investigated over pepper spray incident

A police officer is being investigated over her use of pepper spray just months after reportedly arresting a teenage girl with autism.

Footage of an incident in which a police officer was seen using pepper spray against a number of people in Rothwell, Leeds, on Sunday evening has gone viral on social media.

Officers stopped a car for a suspected traffic offence, but a large crowd gathered around the vehicle. Three police officers received minor injuries in the altercation and two men were arrested at the scene.

West Yorkshire Police confirmed a referral had been made to the Professional Standards Directorate.

The police officer in question is now believed to have been the same officer involved in another incident involving a teenage girl, who had been returned home from Leeds city centre by officers following its annual LGBTQ+ Pride parade.

The 16-year-old girl was arrested and dragged screaming from her home for telling the officer she ‘looks like my lesbian nana’ in August.

The girl was accused of making a homophobic remark to a female police officer with short hair – but her mother, who recorded the exchange, says her daughter is not homophobic and meant that the officer looks like her nana, who is a lesbian.

The girl’s mum shared a clip of the incident in Leeds to her TikTok account with the caption: ‘Well well well, if it isn’t the original lesbian nana herself.’

The police officer sprayed multiple people with pepper spray

This officer was accused of arresting a teenager for saying she looks ‘like my lesbian nana’ (Picture: TikTok/nikitasnow84)

The girl was left cowering under the stairs after the incident last August (Picture: TikTok/nikitasnow84)

Three police officers received minor injuries during the incident in Leeds

She also claimed she had been told the officer had been suspended after ‘dragging my autistic daughter from our home’.

The girl has since been released and West Yorkshire Police confirmed no further action would be taken against her.

The force warned people at the time to ‘avoid reaching conclusions solely on the basis of the social media video’ which ‘only provides a very limited snapshot of the circumstances of this incident’.

Metro.co.uk contacted West Yorkshire Police and the Police Federation to confirm if the same police officer was involved in both altercations. Both declined to comment while the investigation is ongoing.

The force instead provided its latest statement regarding the incident on Sunday evening which said: ‘Leeds District CID is continuing to investigate the incident which occurred after 5pm on October 22 on Third Avenue in Rothwell after a car was stopped by officers for a suspected traffic offence.  

‘A large crowd gathered round the vehicle as the officers were dealing with the driver and became involved in the incident.   

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‘Other officers attended the area to support their colleagues and three officers received minor injuries in the disorder which followed.  

‘Two men were arrested at the scene on suspicion of offences including assaulting police officers, possession of controlled drugs and possession of a knife and offensive weapon.  

‘The two men arrested have since been released under investigation.    

‘A quantity of suspected Class A and B drugs a knife and an offensive weapon were also recovered.   

‘As is standard following any arrest where force is used, the body-worn video of the attending officers will be reviewed in conjunction with social media footage. 

‘Any breaches of the standards of professional behaviour identified will be assessed and dealt with in line with police conduct regulations.    

‘Anyone who can assist police enquiries is asked to contact Leeds District CID referencing police crime number 13230587319.’

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‘As is standard following any arrest where force is used, the body-worn video of the attending officers will be reviewed in conjunction with social media footage.’