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- Ryan Coogler is the director of films such as Fruitvale Station, Creed, and Black Panther.
- The 35-year-old filmamker was recently wrongfully detained by police while withdrawing money from the bank.
- Bodycamera footage of the incident has since been released.
Body camera footage of the moment that Black Panther director Ryan Coogler was detained by police for making a legal withdrawal from the bank has been released. In addition to being detained, one of the responding officers briefly withdrew his weapon as he approached the Fruitvale Station filmmaker. The incident took place at a Bank of America in Atlanta — where Marvel Studios usually films their movies — on January 7.
Ryan Coogler was clearly stunned when cops pulled guns on him as he tried to make a legal withdrawal from his bank account … and it was all caught on police body cam footage. pic.twitter.com/tlFWNSK5iQ
— TMZ (@TMZ) March 10, 2022
Police draw firearm on Marvel’s Black Panther director Ryan Coogler before pulling out the handcuffs. Bank of America employee says “Good Job Officer” as they take him out! pic.twitter.com/O8kKGS8gak
— VideoMixtape.com (@VideoMixtape_) March 10, 2022
According to a report from Variety, Coogler — in an effort to be discreet about his withdrawal — handed the bank teller a withdrawal slip and a note that allegedly 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.”
The teller reportedly misinterpreted the note as an attempted bank robbery and alerted her boss. The pair then contacted the authorities, who also detained two of Coogler’s colleagues that were waiting for him outside.
“This situation should never have happened. However, Bank of America worked with me and addressed it to my satisfaction and we have moved on,” Coogler said in a statement to Variety.
“We deeply regret that this incident occurred. It never should have happened and we have apologized to Mr. Coogler,” Bank of America said in a statement to CNN.
In addition to helming the historic Black Panther and the aforementioned Fruitvale Station, the 35-year-old has also directed 2015’s Creed. Coogler is currently working on the sequel to 2018’s Black Panther, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which is set to hit theaters in the United States on November 11.
RELATED: ‘Black Panther’ Director Ryan Coogler Breaks Silence On Making The Sequel Without Chadwick Boseman
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