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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums'Black Panther' director Coogler handcuffed in January after bank staffers mistakenly thought he was
Ryan Coogler, the director of "Black Panther" and "Creed" and one of the most powerful people in Hollywood, was detained by police in Atlanta in January after he was mistaken for a bank robber.
Coogler was handcuffed by police at a Bank of America branch in Atlanta after her tried to withdraw $12,000.
The sequel to "Black Panther," one of the most popular films of all time, is being filmed in the Atlanta area, where a number of Marvel movies are made.
TMZ reported that Coogler handed the teller a withdrawal slip with a note that reportedly read, "I would like to withdraw $12,000 cash from my checking account. Please do the money count somewhere else. Id like to be discreet."
According to the police report, the transaction triggered an alert. The teller misunderstood the situation and along with her supervisor called Atlanta Police.
https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/597488-black-panther-director-handcuffed-after-bank-staffers
Chainfire
(17,308 posts)Timewas
(2,174 posts)Why he didn't just write a check for it?? And verbally ask for the discretion ??
Piasladic
(1,160 posts)GETTINGTIRED
(330 posts)nods
exboyfil
(17,857 posts)My wife withdraws cash using a teller all the time and she never uses a check which is just wasted additional paper (granted it is $50 or $100 and not $12,000, but it is probably a higher percentage of our income than his request for $12,000).
inthewind21
(4,616 posts)Makes me wonder why you wonder. He has an account, he'd like 12K in cash from said account, he filled out a withdrawal slip, he'd like for everyone around to not know he was being handed 12K in cash. Pretty sure 12k to him is like 5 buck to everyone else. Ah but he's black. He's done nothing that I haven't done myself a few times. Yet he got arrested, no one ever questioned me and you wonder why he didn't do it differently than all us white folks do it on a regular basis.
And verbally asking defeats the whole purpose of discretion now doesn't it.
Response to inthewind21 (Reply #26)
Timewas This message was self-deleted by its author.
Carlitos Brigante
(26,483 posts)Ray Bruns
(4,023 posts)albacore
(2,387 posts)Cracklin Charlie
(12,904 posts)He stated his request clearly, and the request seems perfectly reasonable.
Good grief.
betsuni
(25,128 posts)exboyfil
(17,857 posts)well not fascinating really depressing.
Any rational person wouldn't want to stand there while the teller plopped down 120 $100 bills. I would like to know additional details like was it one of his withdrawal slips (or account card) and did he present his ID?
Nothing about wanting a count outside the public eye says robbery.
inthewind21
(4,616 posts)Quite depressing
Samrob
(4,298 posts)ProfessorGAC
(64,425 posts)The forms included with checks are deposit slips. The check is effectively the withdrawal slip.
I was on the board of a small community bank for over 20 years & I've never actually seen a checking withdrawal slip.
But, if he filled out the blank withdrawal slip with his checking account number, that's totally legit.
It's certainly possible he doesn't carry his checkbook around, or he forgot it. So, even if he COULD just write a check, he didn't have the book and he went with plan B.
What he did would be unusual for a bank, but definitely ok to do.
Finally, handing the teller a signed withdrawal slip, with the correct account number, makes me wonder what there was to misinterpret. They ask to see ID, he shows one, they give him his money.
How does one misinterpret a signed withdrawal slip as a robbery?
Response to RandySF (Original post)
Mosby This message was self-deleted by its author.
exboyfil
(17,857 posts)I could well expect Coogler could run up $12K at club if he is partying with a few of his friends. I mean he has it and he as earned it by giving joy to a whole lot of people. Help out the Atlanta economy and party away.
Response to exboyfil (Reply #12)
Mosby This message was self-deleted by its author.
exboyfil
(17,857 posts)Response to exboyfil (Reply #20)
inthewind21 This message was self-deleted by its author.
Volaris
(10,260 posts)Anyone tipping me CASH is much more my friend, I promise lol!
Torchlight
(3,236 posts)Was done by members of my family for a relation who didn't have a checking account.
exboyfil
(17,857 posts)In this country we have made holding and spending larges amount of cash some kind of crime.
Not sure the founding fathers intended the government to be so up into our business.
Like you say it is his $12K to do with as he pleases. He surely earned it (he has made some great movies).
Response to exboyfil (Reply #14)
Mosby This message was self-deleted by its author.
Torchlight
(3,236 posts)I'm very curious as to what objective evidence you used to arrive at that specific conclusion to the exclusion of all other legitimate possibilities?
Response to Torchlight (Reply #27)
Mosby This message was self-deleted by its author.
Torchlight
(3,236 posts)to assist relative w/o bank account. That's one, real-world example I took part in.
"There are more things in heaven and Earth, than are dreamt of in your philosophy"
Carlitos Brigante
(26,483 posts)read from you, has jack shit to do with the story.
Response to Carlitos Brigante (Reply #31)
Mosby This message was self-deleted by its author.
Carlitos Brigante
(26,483 posts)anyone? Which again, based on the article, was not the case. It's his account, his hard earned money. It's no ones business, including the bank's, what he needed the money for. You've made up a bunch of bullshit in your head, from what I can tell. At least you haven't (directly at least) called him a "thug" yet. Which I'm sure, took a great deal of restraint. If you have any relevant info. to your made up scenarios. I'll ask again to share.
Response to Carlitos Brigante (Reply #41)
Mosby This message was self-deleted by its author.
Torchlight
(3,236 posts)to you as to why cash may be needed?
Response to Torchlight (Reply #50)
Mosby This message was self-deleted by its author.
Torchlight
(3,236 posts)If you want to explain to people why $12,000 in cash is a de facto crime you can explain that. 'That's your issue, not mine.'
Response to Torchlight (Reply #55)
Mosby This message was self-deleted by its author.
Torchlight
(3,236 posts)Hekate
(90,195 posts)If a day-laborer asks for cash in halting English, I assume he doesnt have a bank account. How in hell is he supposed to get one?
People who claim that immigrants are taking American jobs should try doing those jobs themselves. Then pay more so (some) Americans will apply for those jobs. Otherwise, leave it be until the very unjust immigration system gets fixed.
Waitresses who live on their tips are ill-served by not being tipped in cash it is much too easy for their employers to steal the tip on the credit card for the meal, and besides, taxing them when they make so little really seems dastardly to me.
Other jobs at that level likewise. So many Americans live paycheck to paycheck that I wonder how they can possibly manage. Well, one way is to steer clear of thieving banks and thieving credit card companies
Im okay, but sh*t, I do know some people who live right on the edge. They have no ill-gotten gains, and if they are forced into a cashless economy (the way some futuristic types want, those who never worried where next months rent was coming from) they will fall so far that underground will look like up to them.
Carlitos Brigante
(26,483 posts)is true. I'd say it's evident.
Even if you were the nosy neighbor in "Bewitched". It's still not your business. You have zero, I repeat zero idea what people need or do with their money. Unless A. You're his accountant or B. You're psychic. I'm going to take a wild guess and say you're neither. This country is awash with hookers and blow. No need to have any Hollywood connection to get either. So again you're just pulling made up scenarios out of your ass. But hey, it's your ass, land of speculation about black men you know nothing about. Nothing remotely liberal or progressive about that, dude. If this is what the rest of us should expect from white, supposed liberals. We're truly fucked, dude!!
Why don't you just say what you really wanna say, dude? See? I'm psychic too! This is awesome!!!
inthewind21
(4,616 posts)Preach it!
Hassin Bin Sober
(26,272 posts)He could be buying a used car or a motorcycle. Maybe he wants a vintage Volkswagen or a used Harley. Sellers are rightfully scared to death of phony cashiers checks these days. Obviously personal checks are out
He could be buying furniture. Ive bought some high end pieces for a steal but we are still talking thousands.
Some people think they need to pay cash when they really dont. Some people enjoy pulling out a wad to impress the merchant.
Some merchants charge extra for credit card usage fees. I havent seen my checkbook in years so Ive paid cash for big items.
When I worked in auto finance we would always get customers who thought they were doing us a favor by paying cash. Old timer retired blue collar workers especially liked to impress us with envelopes full of cash. I absolutely hated it because then I was responsible for a correct count. I once saw a customer almost have a heart attack when he realized he dropped an envelope with $10k in it - we walked out in the service department just as one of the salesmen picked it up to open it. Knowing that salesman the money would have flown the coop.
I once had a little old lady come in with $15, 000 dollars all in paper-clipped $20 dollar bills in $100 dollar increment packs she obviously saved up for her brand new Buick Skylark. She was a retired phone company employee not a drug dealer.
Carlitos Brigante
(26,483 posts)Kingpin! I mean, why else would she be pretending to buy a car with "cash" of all things? Who does that?........ other than all kinds of law abiding people, that is.
RandySF
(57,647 posts)The bank had no reason to call the cops.
His money, his business.
Response to mcar (Reply #42)
Post removed
Carlitos Brigante
(26,483 posts)mcar
(42,210 posts)Are you seriously comparing me to Rand Paul? Seriously?
iemanja
(53,003 posts)Clearly a crime unto itself.
If it were illicit, he's keep it under 10k. He's in Hollywood. That might be pocket cash to him.
MagickMuffin
(15,892 posts)The 4th Amendment was gutted and no one cared because well of course drugs! People still don't care.
Enforcers can now get away with "no knock" intrusions, searching your vehicles without a warrant, can steal property by claiming you're involved in the illegal drug business.
And
On and on it goes!
Carlitos Brigante
(26,483 posts)show identification. Maybe put that one back in the oven and wait, as it's still pretty damn "doughy".
It's really none of anyone's business why he withdrew 12k or what he was planning on doing with it now is it? Just because you personally have never withdrawn 12K in cash from your bank account doesn't mean it's any of your business to speculate on why he did. Good grief some of the comments here I'd expect to see on the twitter feed of MTG.
Amusing you think the director of Black Panther is "paying people under the table" with 12K while working on a movie with a budget of 200 million. He'll need to go back to BOA 16,666.66 times.
Hekate
(90,195 posts)When I transfer money, I am aware that over $10,000 gets the hairy eyeball from the feds (thanks to 9-11). We moved from one county to another several years ago, and we made some changes in our banks, so yes, I was told this.
I was NOT told to assume the position for being handcuffed.
But then, Im an old white lady.
Both of my brothers had a little bobble with their respective banks some years back over quite different things, but both were easily resolved without resorting to, for gods sake, calling the cops.
But they, too, are white.
Makes you wonder. Actually this is in the category of things that make me want to throw heavy objects and scream.
Mosby
(16,168 posts)He provided a deposit slip, so that should have been fine.
Politicub
(12,163 posts)It doesnt matter what he wanted to do not your business or my business, either.
marie999
(3,334 posts)You don't just hand the teller a withdrawal slip. The teller will tell you to insert your debit card and enter your password. Did the teller tell him to do that or not?
You do. Believe it or not, there are people out there who still use checks and don't even have debit cards.
Hekate
(90,195 posts)Say it ain't so! j/k. Clearly there's a HUGE swath of the citizens in this country who haven't a clue beyond their own front porch and are more than willing to make fools of themselves in public. Several on this very thread.
LakeArenal
(28,729 posts)Response to RandySF (Original post)
jmowreader This message was self-deleted by its author.
Carlitos Brigante
(26,483 posts)where they end up in handcuffs? Feel free to post any.
inthewind21
(4,616 posts)If you think for one second I'm calling to make an appointment with a bank so I can get MY money, you're out of your mind. I have an account at bank X, bank X is open, I go to bank x, I fill out a withdrawal slip, hand it to the teller, teller verifies the account, teller hands me MY money, I leave with my money. Period! And, newsflash, it's 2022 not 1962 I think it's hysterical you think BOA, or any of the big banks anywhere get to "know" the people who come in on a daily basis.
Response to inthewind21 (Reply #33)
NYC Liberal This message was self-deleted by its author.
WhiskeyGrinder
(22,147 posts)MineralMan
(146,192 posts)About 20 years ago, I was going to a wholesale mineral show to buy stock for my internet mineral specimen business. At that show, which had many international mineral dealers, the only payment accepted by the wholesalers was $100 bills. No checks. No credit cards. So, the day before driving to Tucson, AZ, I went into my local Wells Fargo branch and asked for $10,000 in $100 bills to be withdrawn from my savings account.
The teller called for a manager. The manager came over, looked at the teller's screen, where my accounts were listed, and OKed the transaction. The bundle of $100 bills was placed in an envelope. I signed a withdrawal slip and walked out of the bank with the cash.
The manager did ask why I needed that much cash. I explained my buying trip. That was it.
I was a 50-something white guy with a big full beard. I wasn't a black man. I got my cash, not handcuffs. Racism was not in play on that day.
Response to MineralMan (Reply #25)
Mosby This message was self-deleted by its author.
Crepuscular
(1,057 posts)The linked report did not mention it but the teller who told her manager that she thought that this was a robbery attempt was black and she is the one who called 911. From one of the videos showing him being cuffed, it looks like the manager (guy in the suit talking to the cops) was also black, as were the cops who cuffed him. Still sure that this was racism pure and simple?
Or is it possible that the teller freaked out by being handed a note asking for a large amount of cash and simply misread the entire situation. It was resolved within a matter of minutes after the cops arrived.
It's entirely possible that racism was involved in some manner in this instance but it's also true that we have become conditioned to reach the worst possible conclusion based on often incomplete reporting of events that are not always what they seem to be. That sometimes can cause as much damage to deepening the racial divide in this country as the purported acts do.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)for a white customer. I think not.
Crepuscular
(1,057 posts)Without having been there, I can't answer that, based on the limited information available and neither can you without simply speculating. But you seemed sure that it was racism, pure and simple. So was the black teller the racist? The black bank manager? The black cops? Since you seem so sure, which was the racist individual?
cinematicdiversions
(1,969 posts)I am not picking on you in particular. I see this all the time. A lot of they can't help themselves and they didn't know any better. I find it incredibly insulting treating black adults as children that need to be taught not to be racist.
Mopar151
(9,965 posts)They normally (when fully open, pre-COVID) made a $5K cash withdrawal for their Saturday trade. And they are a comparatively tiny operation!
The scrappers aren't into checks, banks, or taxes, can't cash a check on Saturdays anyway! The beer stores, pot dealers, and "white powder"/pill peddlers all greatly prefer cash - as "Bob" says "Saturdays are about the need!"
Response to RandySF (Original post)
Mopar151 This message was self-deleted by its author.
DFW
(54,055 posts)Living in control-freak-government territory (i.e. Europe), I do as much in cash as is practical, if for no other reason that I hate the very principle of bearing my every movement, taste, and motion to a data bank who can be accessed by who-the-hell-knows-whom. The "what do you have to hide" argument goes out the window for me when it comes to this. The answer to that is "what right do you have to ask?" My very left-wing German wife feels the same way. We both visited the former East Germany plenty of times, and the "Big Brother Is Watching You" feeling of the "realexistierender Sozialismus" was downright creepy. As it is, here in the West, plenty of home break-ins get traced back to corrupt installers of security systems and safes, or to cops who have been inside the houses, and seen something worth stealing.
If this had to be reported due to being over $10,000, I'm sure that Coogler was perfectly cool with filling out the necessary form, seeing as how he was withdrawing the money FROM HIS OWN ACCOUNT. If it was his account, then the bank is merely the custodian. They do not have a right to just seize it, and tell him he can't have it without getting arrested. It's not like he tried to withdraw money from someone else's account. I'm sure it would be as impractical as hell, but I would have immediately looked into withdrawing the whole film project out of Georgia for someplace else, and make it publicly known who is responsible for it, with the names of the branch and the Bank of America employees responsible.
A restaurant makes up its bill regardless of whether the guest is paying by credit card or cash, and the credit card company takes out somewhere between 2½% and 5½% for itself. If I owned a restaurant, I'd be relieved as hell every time a customer wanted to pay in cash. If you want to catch someone who launders money for a drug dealer, check the small pizzeria who brings in $250,000 a week in $5, $10 and $20 bills to the bank, fully declared, and says business is booming, not the guy who takes ten employees out for dinner after a good month and pays the bill with eight $100 bills. Honest guys get punished, not the bad guys (they shoot back).
I hope the VERY least Coogler gets is a huge public apology from BoA, and some kind of contribution from them to some community organization. If not, he should pull his own, and every production-related account from BoA Atlanta, make loud noises about why, and recommend that everyone he knows with a BoA account do the same.
This HAS to stop, and it just doesn't. How many more handcuffed star directors or arrested 12 year old kids on their bikes are we going to hear about this month? We still have 22 days left to go, after all.
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(107,106 posts)Nevilledog
(50,686 posts)Carlitos Brigante
(26,483 posts)MissMillie
(38,454 posts)(Though I imagine it happens a lot more than we hear about.)
It sounds like he worked it out with them, but he did say it should have never happened. Of course, he's right.
honest.abe
(8,556 posts)if I was withdrawing that amount of cash I would have called first and ask them how to do it discretely.