Sunderland, England - Everton striker Victor Anichebe criticized police on Thursday after an incident outside a jeweller's shop in Knutsford, Cheshire.

Anichebe, who was wearing a cast on a leg injury, was looking in the window with a friend, when police swooped.

A heated dialogue ensued, during which his friend was handcuffed.

"Victor was deeply upset and very distressed by the incident," Everton spokesman Ian Ross told reporters.

"I believe he is still waiting for a full and unreserved apology from the police involved.

"Once he has received that both the club and the player will consider the matter closed."

A police spokesman explained: "For some time Cheshire Constabulary have been responding to a series of violent robberies targeting jewellers in Knutsford and in the wider Cheshire area.

"We have robust plans in place to respond swiftly to any report of any suspicious activity at or in the vicinity of jewellers' premises.

"As part of that plan, local CCTV operators actively and routinely monitor shopping areas and jewellers' premises and on this occasion identified what appeared to be two men acting suspiciously outside a jeweller's store on King Street, Knutsford.

"Police attended the location within minutes and upon speaking with the two men, a heated dialogue developed in an attempt to ascertain exactly what the two persons were doing outside the jewellers' premises.

"During the course of this exchange, an officer took the decision to restrain one of the two men concerned by applying handcuffs.

"It was subsequently ascertained that there was no criminal conduct whatsoever on behalf of the two men concerned and they were in no way involved in any criminal activity." (dpa)