In a bizarre incident, the celebrated director of the Oscar-nominated film, Black Panther, Ryan Coogler, was detained by the Atlanta Police Department back in January after he was mistaken for a bank robber at a Bank of America branch. CCTV visuals showed Coogler walking in wearing shades and a face mask and handing the bank's teller a withdrawal slip that had a note written on the back which read, "I would like to withdraw $12,000 cash from my checking account. Please do the money count somewhere else. I'd like to be discreet." His need to write this note was completely understandable, considering the amount of money he was withdrawing. However, this was not something one sees every day and therefore led to the bank teller thinking something suspicious was going on. The teller then alerted her seniors at the bank, who then called the police assuming they were about to get caught in the middle of an armed robbery.
Officials from the Atlanta PD arrived at the scene of the 'crime' and detained two of Ryan’s colleagues who were waiting in an SUV outside the bank. But, upon verifying the director's true identity and his Bank of America account details, the police released him and both his colleagues. Coogler confirmed this news to Variety and said, "This situation should never have happened." He added, "However, Bank of America worked with me and addressed it to my satisfaction and we have moved on." Visuals are now doing the rounds on social media showing Coogler being handcuffed and escorted by police officials. Watch the video below:
TAKE A LOOK: This is Atlanta Police body camera footage of Black Panther Director Ryan Coogler being arrested inside a bank after he was mistaken for a bank robber by the teller. He was trying to get money from his own account. You can see an officer pull a gun.@FOX5Atlanta pic.twitter.com/T8MjJkEqDb
— Eric Perry (@Ericperrytv) March 9, 2022
Ryan Coogler, of Creed and Black Panther fame, is currently writing and directing the superhero sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, in Atlanta, which is scheduled to open in theatres this November. The first Black Panther film was released back in 2018 and was a box office juggernaut grossing more than $1.3 billion worldwide and set a record to be the first superhero movie to ever be nominated at the Oscars, let alone win them. It bagged 3 of the accolades for Best Costume Design, Best Original Score, and Best Production Design.
