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CNN
5 days ago
- CNN
Charges dropped against man accused of trying to abduct a child at a Georgia Walmart after surveillance video sows doubt
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 encountered 26-year-old Caroline Miller 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 spoke with CNN affiliate WXIA 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. CNN's Chris Boyette and Jason Morris contributed to this report.
CNN
5 days ago
- CNN
Charges dropped against man accused of trying to abduct a child at a Georgia Walmart after surveillance video sows doubt
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 encountered 26-year-old Caroline Miller 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 spoke with CNN affiliate WXIA 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. CNN's Chris Boyette and Jason Morris contributed to this report.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Charges dropped against man accused of trying to kidnap a toddler at a Walmart
Charges have been dropped against a man accused of attempting to kidnap a 2-year-old boy at a Walmart in Georgia. Mahendra Patel, of Kennesaw, was arrested and subsequently indicted by a grand jury on attempted kidnapping, battery and assault charges stemming from an incident reported at a Walmart in Acworth on March 18. On Wednesday, Cobb County prosecutors filed a motion to drop the charges, stating they are "satisfied that the ends of justice have been met" following a meeting with Patel and the toddler's mother, Caroline Miller, earlier this week. During a hearing Wednesday afternoon, Judge Gregory Poole accepted the motion. "I believe it's in the court's discretion, and obviously that's fine with me, knowing what I've seen in the matter," Poole said. "I appreciate the state looking into it." ABC News has reached out to Patel's attorney for comment. MORE: Man accused of attempted kidnapping of 2-year-old at Georgia Walmart granted bond The case garnered local and national attention after his attorney, Ashleigh Merchant, released surveillance footage that she said proves his innocence, as Patel remained in custody following his arrest. Patel was released on $10,000 bond on May 6 after spending more than six weeks in jail. During a May bond hearing, Merchant said Patel was looking for Tylenol for his mother when he approached Miller for help at the Walmart. Miller was riding in a motorized cart with her two young children at the time, though Merchant noted she is not physically disabled. Merchant said Patel was offering to hold the toddler while Miller pointed out where the medicine was, and after leaning in to reach for the child, he "immediately backs up" and puts his hands in his pockets when Miller leans back. MORE: 18-year-old speaks out after alleged kidnapping attempt caught on camera The prosecutor, Jesse Evans, said during the hearing that Patel was seen in the video tugging on the 2-year-old boy's leg while he was in his mother's lap in what he referred to as a "very bizarre set of circumstances." Evans said at the time that Miller had been "deferential to the state" regarding the case. Poole had scheduled a jury trial in the case for Aug. 18, court records show, before the charges were dropped. Solve the daily Crossword
CNN
06-05-2025
- CNN
A man spent 45 days in jail, accused of trying to abduct a child at Walmart. A judge granted a bond after lawyer shows video
CNN — Mahendra Patel, who is 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, has been granted a $10,000 bond after being held in a Cobb County jail for 45 days. 'I'm going to grant this man a bond. He's entitled to a bond,' Cobb County Superior Court Judge A. Gregory Poole said in court Tuesday. Patel was released later in the day, his attorney told CNN. Patel's lawyer, Ashleigh Merchant, presented her case as to why he should be released by showing the judge a compilation of security footage that she subpoenaed from Walmart and shared with media outlets including CNN. They show the March 18 incident at a Walmart in the city of Acworth, about 30 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta. 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. Patel had the support of numerous people who were in another room at the courthouse, including friends, relatives and neighbors, the attorney told the judge. The footage is somewhat grainy and Patel's back obscures part of what is happening. Prosecutors argued the video shows Patel grabbed the child, he shouldn't have and he fled after the incident. Merchant contended Patel did not flee the scene, and that he has strong ties in the community, such as property ownership, a wife and daughters, volunteering at local nonprofits and being a member of organizations such as the Kiwanis Club. Cobb County Chief Assistant District Attorney Jesse Evans said Patel was previously convicted of a felony for a financial scheme and was arrested on suspicion of DUI. 'I'm not worried about that. I don't believe he poses a risk to the community,' said Poole. 'The evidence from the video, and I won't comment on what I think the video really shows, as far as guilt or innocence. It's not my job today. But the facts do show me that he hung around, and I don't find that he's a flight risk based upon what I saw in the video,' Poole said. Caroline Miller, 26, told police Patel asked for help finding Tylenol at the Walmart. She said Patel tried to grab her 2-year-old son from her, but she pulled the child back. CNN has attempted to reach Miller, who previously has spoken publicly about the incident, for comment. When reached by phone, a family member told CNN that Miller declined to comment. A grand jury indicted Patel on April 3 on charges of criminal attempt to commit kidnapping, simple assault and simple battery, according to court documents. Patel, 57, spent his birthday in jail, according to his attorney.
CNN
06-05-2025
- CNN
A man spent 45 days in jail, accused of trying to abduct a child at Walmart. A judge granted a bond after lawyer shows video
CNN — Mahendra Patel, who is 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, has been granted a $10,000 bond after being held in a Cobb County jail for 45 days. 'I'm going to grant this man a bond. He's entitled to a bond,' Cobb County Superior Court Judge A. Gregory Poole said in court Tuesday. Patel was released later in the day, his attorney told CNN. Patel's lawyer, Ashleigh Merchant, presented her case as to why he should be released by showing the judge a compilation of security footage that she subpoenaed from Walmart and shared with media outlets including CNN. They show the March 18 incident at a Walmart in the city of Acworth, about 30 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta. 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. Patel had the support of numerous people who were in another room at the courthouse, including friends, relatives and neighbors, the attorney told the judge. The footage is somewhat grainy and Patel's back obscures part of what is happening. Prosecutors argued the video shows Patel grabbed the child, he shouldn't have and he fled after the incident. Merchant contended Patel did not flee the scene, and that he has strong ties in the community, such as property ownership, a wife and daughters, volunteering at local nonprofits and being a member of organizations such as the Kiwanis Club. Cobb County Chief Assistant District Attorney Jesse Evans said Patel was previously convicted of a felony for a financial scheme and was arrested on suspicion of DUI. 'I'm not worried about that. I don't believe he poses a risk to the community,' said Poole. 'The evidence from the video, and I won't comment on what I think the video really shows, as far as guilt or innocence. It's not my job today. But the facts do show me that he hung around, and I don't find that he's a flight risk based upon what I saw in the video,' Poole said. Caroline Miller, 26, told police Patel asked for help finding Tylenol at the Walmart. She said Patel tried to grab her 2-year-old son from her, but she pulled the child back. CNN has attempted to reach Miller, who previously has spoken publicly about the incident, for comment. When reached by phone, a family member told CNN that Miller declined to comment. A grand jury indicted Patel on April 3 on charges of criminal attempt to commit kidnapping, simple assault and simple battery, according to court documents. Patel, 57, spent his birthday in jail, according to his attorney.
