This story has gripped Acworth — and it's dividing the community.
In March, a man named Mahendra Patel was arrested at the Acworth Walmart after a mother, Caroline Miller, claimed he tried to kidnap her 2-year-old son. According to Miller, Patel asked for help finding Tylenol, then suddenly grabbed her child. She described a “tug of war” moment as she pulled her son back.
But Patel’s attorney says the situation was completely misunderstood — and released surveillance video that she says proves he was trying to help, not harm.
According to her:
- Patel saw the boy slipping from the mother's lap and instinctively reached out
- The mother was in a motorized cart holding two children, and he believed the boy was about to fall
- The video shows Patel calmly shopping, using his debit card under his real name, and not fleeing the store
- He was arrested days later and has been in jail for 45 days without bond until just now
Now, a [Change.org petition with over 45,000 signatures](https://www.change.org/p/help-innocent-mahendra-patel-to-get-justice
) is calling for charges to be dropped and the case to be reviewed immediately. Still, he has been formally indicted for:
- Attempted Kidnapping
- Simple Battery
- Simple Assault
The Acworth Police Department has not released video or commented on the defense footage, saying the case is still under investigation.
🤔 So… what do you think?
Was this a case of a good Samaritan being wrongly accused?
Or was there something more serious happening — and the mother’s instinct was right?
This story raises serious questions about how we interpret actions in public, how quickly we arrest, and what evidence is made public before judgment is passed.
Let’s hear your thoughts — respectfully.
- Do you believe Patel was trying to help?
- Does the surveillance footage change your view?
- How should law enforcement and courts handle these situations?
📍Discussion welcome — please keep it civil and open-minded.
📰 Source: WSB-TV – Group calls for review of charges in Walmart 'attempted kidnapping'
