Black Panther director mistaken for thief, handcuffed at Bank of Atlanta – WSB-TV Channel 2

ATLANTA – Police reports have shown that Black Panther manager Ryan Coogler mistook him for a bank robber at Metro Atlanta Bank of America and was taken into custody.

The incident occurred on January 7, 2022 at Bank of America at 1280 West Pieces Ferry, when police responded to reports of a man attempting to rob the bank.

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According to a report from the Atlanta Police Department, a Bank of America employee called the police after Coogler passed him a checkout slip filled with a note written on the back asking cashiers to be careful about the transaction.

When the officers arrived at the scene, Coogler was still inside the bank. Officers took him out and handcuffed him during the interrogation.

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Officers determined that Coogler was trying to withdraw cash valued at more than $10,000. The bank teller received a notification from Coogler’s account and told her manager that he was trying to rob the bank.

Officers decided the incident was a mistake by Bank of America and released Coogler. Two people who were accompanying Coogler were also arrested and released, but they were never handcuffed.

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Bank of America apologized to Coogler and let him go his way.

Bank of America issued a statement confirming the incident, writing:

We deeply regret this incident. It should never have happened and we have apologized to Mr. Coogler.”

Channel 2 Action News received a statement from Coogler’s PR team:

This situation should never have happened. However, Bank of America has worked with me and taken it to my satisfaction and we have moved on.

Coogler directed the original film Black Panther, which was the highest-grossing film ever for a black director. He was in Atlanta to direct the sequel to Black Panther: Forever Wakanda.

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