The incident, in which the officer deployed pepper spray against several individuals, was captured on video and went viral on social media. The officers had stopped a car for a suspected traffic offense, but a large crowd gathered around the vehicle, resulting in an altercation where three police officers sustained minor injuries, and two men were arrested.
The officer being investigated is believed to have been involved in another incident where a teenage girl with autism was arrested and forcibly removed from her home. The girl had referred to the officer as "looking like my lesbian nana," which was misconstrued as a homophobic remark. West Yorkshire Police confirmed a referral to the Professional Standards Directorate and stated that investigations are ongoing.