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lite.cnn.com - on gopher - inofficial
ARTICLE VIEW:
Charges dropped against man accused of trying to abduct a child at a
Georgia Walmart after surveillance video sows doubt
By Emma Tucker, CNN
Updated:
8:05 PM EDT, Thu August 7, 2025
Source: CNN
Charges have been dismissed against a man who was facing attempted
kidnapping and other charges after a mother accused him of trying to
grab her 2-year-old son from her at a Georgia Walmart, court records
show.
Mahendra Patel with her two children riding a motorized cart she was
driving in the March 18 incident at a Walmart in the city of Acworth,
about 30 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta. He asked her for help to
find Tylenol, his lawyer says. Miller alleged Patel then grabbed her
2-year-old son from her, but that she pulled the child back.
Patel’s lawyer, however, says surveillance videos prove he was just
trying to make sure the boy didn’t fall from the scooter, which they
said had just clipped a store display.
Patel was held in a Cobb County jail for 45 days after he was indicted
on April 3 by a grand jury on charges of criminal attempt to commit
kidnapping, simple assault and simple battery.
He was released on a $10,000 bond in early May after his lawyer,
Ashleigh Merchant, presented her case as to why he should be released
by showing the judge a compilation of security footage she subpoenaed
from Walmart and shared with media outlets, including CNN.
It was the security footage that drew public attention to the case and
prompted over 90,000 people to sign a petition declaring his innocence
and calling for his release.
The footage is somewhat grainy and Patel’s back obscures part of what
is happening in his encounter with Miller. About six minutes later,
video shows Patel paying for his purchase and walking out the door
after pausing to speak with an employee for more than 20 seconds.
While Merchant said Patel was just trying to make sure the boy didn’t
fall from a scooter his mother was riding on with him in her lap,
prosecutors argued the video shows he grabbed the child and fled after
the incident.
The state agreed to enter a motion to dismiss the case and drop the
charges on Wednesday, according to court records.
Patel after the court hearing, saying: “I feel relieved to be honest
with you. This thing was hanging over my head for a long time and our
family went through a lot of hell. You know, we went through this, but
today is a day of celebration and I’m thankful that I’m out.”
CNN has contacted the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office for
comment.
“The only reason this case was resolved in our favor was because we
were able to obtain the video proving our client was innocent from
Walmart,” Merchant said in a statement to CNN.
“Our system needs to be aware that innocent people are falsely
accused on a daily basis and without police willing to investigate
before rushing to judgement, judge’s willing to release people on
bond while awaiting an investigation, and prosecutors willing to
provide transparency with evidence, this will continue to happen,”
the attorney continued.
CNN has attempted to reach the accuser, Caroline Miller, who previously
has spoken publicly about the incident, for comment. A family member
previously told CNN that Miller declined to comment on the case.
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