Mahendra Patel, an Indian-American, has spent over 40 days in jail in Georgia after being accused of attempting to kidnap a toddler in a Walmart. But his lawyer says the entire incident was a misunderstanding — and that security footage backs him up.
What Happened?
In March, Patel approached a woman named Caroline Miller at a Walmart in Acworth, Georgia, asking for help finding Tylenol. Miller was in a motorized cart with two children. Moments later, she accused Patel of grabbing her 2-year-old son from her lap.
She told police and local media that Patel placed both hands on her son and pulled him away. “We were tug-of-warring,” she said in an earlier interview.
But Patel’s lawyer, Ashleigh Merchant, says surveillance video tells a different story. She claims the cart had bumped into a display and Patel instinctively reached forward to prevent the child from falling.
The Surveillance Footage
Video from the store, which lacks audio, shows Patel briefly interacting with Miller. He appears to reach toward her lap before quickly backing off. There is no visible struggle or prolonged contact. A man nearby looks toward them but does not intervene.
Merchant says the footage proves there was no kidnapping attempt or assault. “He leaned in for a split second to steady the child,” she told CNN.
Later, Patel is seen walking past Miller again, apparently showing her the Tylenol he found. They exchange brief gestures and he walks away. Miller is then seen reporting the incident to a store employee, who later called the police.
Legal Fallout
Patel was arrested three days later. A grand jury indicted him on April 3 for attempted kidnapping, simple assault, and battery. He remains in custody without bond at Cobb County Adult Detention Center.
His lawyer says Patel’s legal team subpoenaed the video and submitted it as evidence, but prosecutors have yet to agree to bond. A hearing is set for Tuesday.
Community Reaction
Supporters have launched a petition on Change.org, describing Patel as a respected member of the Indian-American community and calling for the charges to be dropped.
Merchant says the incident has devastated Patel’s family, who are struggling to care for his elderly mother and maintain their business.
“This is not someone trying to kidnap a child,” Merchant insists. “It’s someone who was trying to help.”
Authorities, however, have not commented on the surveillance footage. The Cobb County district attorney and police declined to respond to CNN’s inquiries, and Miller has also refused to speak further on the matter.
The case now hinges on what the judge decides during the upcoming bond hearing.
