Georgia Man Accused Of Attempting To Kidnap Child In Walmart Released After Spending 6 Weeks In Jail

Georgia Man Accused Of Attempting To Kidnap Child In Walmart Released After Spending 6 Weeks In Jail

After spending more than a month in a Cobb County jail, Mahendra Patel, the man controversially accused of attempted kidnapping, has been released on a $10,000 bond.

The 57-year-old was detained in March following accusations that he attempted to grab a 2-year-old child from his mother at a Georgia Walmart. The incident led to Patel’s indictment on charges of attempted kidnapping, simple assault, and battery.

During a court hearing on Tuesday (May 6), the judge granted bond, stating that Patel was legally entitled to it and did not appear to be a flight risk. Patel’s attorney argued that he was trying to prevent the child from falling off a scooter. She presented Walmart security footage to support her claim.

 

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The case has sparked widespread attention, with some questioning whether racial bias played a role in the assumptions surrounding Patel’s actions. In court, the judge noted that Patel had strong community ties, including property ownership, volunteer work, and membership in local organizations. He stated:

“The evidence from the video, and I won’t comment on what I think the video really shows, as far as guilt or innocence, because that’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 on what I saw in the video.”

Prosecutors, however, disagreed with the decision to grant bond. They maintain that Patel’s actions were inappropriate and that he should not have made physical contact with the child. They also pointed to a prior felony conviction for a financial crime and a past DUI arrest.

The child’s mother, Caroline Miller, told police that Patel approached her under the pretense of asking for Tylenol before allegedly trying to grab her son.

[VIA]

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