Chi's Pen

A few days ago, the video of Director Ryan Coogler began circulating of an incident that happened to him in January 2022, of him being handcuffed at BOA while trying to withdraw a large sum of money from his own personal account. This interaction could have gone wrong on so many levels. Starting with the police officer coming from behind him and unholstering his weapon (not getting ready to but did) with civilians everywhere. He had not taken a moment to ask not one question nor say excuse me sir may I speak with you for a second. This is where the shoot now and justify later comes from.

In the video you can clearly see there is no aggression, no voice being raised, hands in clear site, no resisting, just complete compliance. What was the need for the handcuffs? In the moment he asked, “is there a reason yall doing this?” Then you Mr. Officer “give me one second.” That could have been the second you pulled him aside, escorted him into the Branch Managers office to further discuss what the problem was. Oh, you couldn’t have done that because the little lady saying “good job” as you escorted this would be bank robber out the door in handcuffs was probably the manager who instructed the teller to call the police rather than follow proper policy and procedures and come and see what the problem was. Instead, the best reaction is to pull your firearm then handcuff him and those who were waiting for him in the car. Then go back and find out what the problem was. He told you with his ID in your hand GOOGLE ME!

Now let’s talk about this would be bank robber. All bank robbers come into banks with ID, cards to accounts, and pin numbers to accounts. Bank robbers hand notes to tellers with ID and wait while tellers walk away to speak with their managers. Bank robbers wait, bank robbers wait, bank robbers stand there and wait and when you ask them questions, they answer your questions and yet still wait.

Now let’s pour salt in your wound and release the audio of the 911 call and hear the truth be admitted that “he handed me his ID but I didn’t even look at his name.” Lady ma’am, had you taken a moment, calmed yourself, read the note properly, reviewed the ID with the banking information that populated the screen, all of this could have been avoided. Even if you were still shaken after review of the information because of the large sum he was requesting then you should have requested assistance. Of course someone withdrawing this amount of money may be a new thing for you and that may have shaken you for a second but come on, you are in Atlanta and you work at one of the largest banking establishments in the world.

This could have been a tragedy that could have been avoided. Just like so many others.

This my page this my take!

Chi’s Pen