Cobb County community leaders demand charges be dropped against accused Walmart kidnapper
The Brief
The Cobb County Democratic Party is joining growing calls for Mehandra Patel to be released. They're demanding the Cobb County District Attorney Sonya Allen release Patel and drop all charges against him.
Acworth Police arrested Patel in March and charged him with attempted kidnapping after a mother claimed he tried to snatch her toddler from her arms in Walmart before fleeing the scene. But video evidence released by his attorney seems to contradict that account.
The Cobb County District Attorney's Office told FOX 5 in a statement that they wouldn't be moving forward with the case if there wasn't a "sound, legal basis" and that the evidence would be "appropriately addressed" at a bond hearing Tuesday.
ACWORTH, Ga. - The Cobb County Democratic Committee is advocating for the release of Mahendra Patel, a 56-year-old man charged with attempted kidnapping at a Walmart in Acworth. Despite their calls, the Cobb County District Attorney's Office has stated they will proceed with the case.
The backstory
Patel was arrested after Acworth police alleged he attempted to snatch a toddler from his mother's arms in March.
However, surveillance footage released by Patel's attorney appears to contradict this account.
The video shows Patel briefly trying to pick up the child, which his attorney claims was an attempt to prevent the child from falling out of a shopping cart.
Patel is then seen calmly showing the mother Tylenol, checking out, and exiting the store.
What they're saying
Essence Johnson, Chair of the Cobb County Democratic Party, argues that the video evidence demonstrates Patel's innocence and is calling for his release, the dropping of charges, and the sealing of his record.
Patel has been held in Cobb County Jail for over 40 days, and an online petition for his release has garnered 39,000 signatures.
Johnson says she and other Democratic Party officials have worked to contact DA Allen about the case but have not received any response.
"This could be Mr. Patel, could be me, it could be you, it could be anybody," said Johnson.
She encourages people to attend the bond hearing Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. to show their support for Patel's release.
The other side
The District Attorney's Office, led by Sonya Allen, maintains that they will not prosecute without a sound legal basis and are committed to upholding the rights of victims and defendants.
FOX 5 reached out to the DA's office and asked whether they were considering releasing him.
They sent us back this statement:
"It is neither the policy nor the objective of the Cobb Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office to expend valuable taxpayer resources prosecuting individuals without a sound legal basis.
This Office remains firmly committed to upholding the rights of every victim and every defendant, in accordance with the law and the principles of justice.
"In every case, we are guided by the law, the evidence, and our duty to the community," said Cobb Judicial Circuit District Attorney Sonya Allen.
Consistent with the ethical rules that govern our profession, we are prohibited from publicly discussing the facts of any pending criminal case outside of formal court proceedings.
Mr. Patel has a bond hearing scheduled for Tuesday, May 6. At that time, the facts and evidence in this matter will be appropriately addressed."
The Source
Information for this story was provided by The Cobb County Democratic Committee, The Cobb County District Attorney's Office and from previous reporting by Fox 5 Atlanta.
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