“We are deeply sorry that this incident happened. It should never have happened, and we apologize to Mr. Coogler,” says a Bank of America spokesperson.
Critically acclaimed Black Panther director Ryan Coogler was handcuffed by police in January after he was mistaken for a bank robber while attempting to withdraw cash at a Bank of America branch in Atlanta.
“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 Rolling Stone that TMZ first reported on Wednesday.
“We are deeply sorry that this incident happened. It should never have happened, and we apologize to Mr. Coogler,” a bank spokesperson said in a separate statement.
According to a police report obtained by TMZ, Coogler was wearing a hat, sunglasses and a pandemic mask when he handed a Taylor clearance slip along with a handwritten note.
“I want to cash out $12,000 from my checking account. Please count the money elsewhere. I want to be discreet,” the note purportedly read.
Taylor reportedly entered something into a computer that triggered an alert, and police were called on suspicion of attempted robbery. Responding officers handcuffed Coogler and also detained two men waiting for the Fruitvale station director in an SUV outside.
The police report obtained by TMZ described Taylor as a pregnant black woman. The investigation determined Taylor’s error, and Coogler was release
Coogler, 35, is in Georgia working on the much-anticipated Marvel sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which is set to release in November.