Ryan Coogler, the ‘Black Panther‘ director was mistaken for a bank robber while visiting the Atlanta branch of the Bank of America and was handcuffed for a short while before local authorities realized he’d done no wrong, The Hollywood Reporter said. 

The Atlanta police department later admitted that Coogler’s initial arrest was a case of mistaken identity. Subsequently, the Bank of America apologized to him, and Coogler released a statement addressing the matter. As per THR, he said, “This situation should never have happened. However, Bank of America worked with me and addressed it to my satisfaction and we have moved on”. 

As per the police records, obtained by THR, the director and his two associates were detained after Coogler gave a withdrawn bank slip to a teller, with a note at the back instructing to be discreet while handing over the cash. 

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Reportedly, Coogler had a California identification and a Bank of America card, when he put in his demand for over $10,000. 

According to THR, the report adds, “The bank teller then received an alert notification from Mr Coogler’s account and quickly advised her manager that suspect # 3 (Coogler) is attempting to rob the bank. 911 was alerted and responded”. 

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When officers arrived at the scene, they found Coogler’s associates – a man and a woman – seated at the back of a car, and were informed that Coogler was inside conducting a transaction. They introduced the ‘Black Panther’ director as a movie producer. The description they provided of Coogler matched that of the apparent suspect robbing the bank. Thereafter, Coogler’s associates were placed at the back of a patrol car, and the director was taken out of the bank in handcuffs.

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However, as investigations continued, it became clear that Coogler and his associates were innocent. The police report obtained by THR reads, “It was determined later by Sgt. Fernandez that the incident is a mistake by Bank Of America and that Mr Coogler was never in the wrong and was immediately taken out of handcuff and that suspects # 1 and # 2 was taken out from the rear of the patrol vehicle”, and it also says, “Mr Coogler, as well as suspect # 1 and # 2, was given an explanation of the incident as well as an apology for the mistake by the Bank Of America. Mr Coogler requested the name as well as the badge number for all the officers on scene”. 

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The Bank of America spoke to THR after the incident, expressing their deep regret and conveying they’d already apologized to Coogler.