Director Ryan Coogler Handcuffed After Bank of America Staff Thought He Was Attempting Robbery

Black Panther and Creed director Ryan Coogler was briefly placed in handcuffs after Bank of America staff in Atlanta believed he was a bank robber.

Coogler was detained by authorities in January after he tried to make a withdrawal from his account, TMZ reports. Wearing shades and a mask, the 35-year-old Oscar-nominated filmmaker passed the bank teller a note that 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 believed the message was suspicious, and called authorities to the scene over claims of an attempted robbery.

When the officers arrived, they detained two people waiting for Coogler in an SUV outside the bank, then placed the director in cuffs. In a statement provided to Variety, Coogler confirmed the situation happened and said the issue has been resolved.

“This situation should never have happened,” he stated. “However, Bank of America worked with me and addressed it to my satisfaction and we have moved on.”

This story is being updated.