What Happened to Mahendra Patel?
A Case That Raises Concerns with Due Process for Minorities in America
 

By: Aditya Manchanda

In March 2025, a short trip to Walmart in search of Tylenol turned into a life altering nightmare for Mahendra Patel, a 56-year-old engineer and Georgia resident. Currently in jail without bond, Patel is facing felony charges, even though surveillance footage tells a different story than the police report. This case isn’t about one man’s arrest. It’s about how quickly things can go wrong when assumptions are made, and how the justice system fails to protect innocent people, solely because of the color of their skin.

The Accusation
On March 18th, 2025, Patel went to a Walmart in Acworth, Georgia, to buy pain killers for his sick mother. Inside the store, he briefly spoke to the plaintiff, Caroline Miller. Miller, a 26-year-old mother of 2, took a “joyride” on a mobility scooter to entertain her kids. When Patel noticed her toddler falling from her lap, Patel grabbed the 2-year-old and repositioned him. Though Miller appears calm and even thankful for Patel’s help, she later called the police and claimed Patel tried snatching her toddler from her lap, which ensued a “tug of war” between her and Patel. Three days later, Patel was arrested and charged with attempted kidnapping, battery, and assault. He has been in jail ever since, denied bond, despite having no prior criminal charges.

The Video Evidence
What’s confusing – and troubling – is that Walmart surveillance footage appears to tell a different story. Camera footage shows Patel walking into the store, asking Miller where the medicine was, and calmly walking out. There is no sign of a struggle, no chase, or no panic. The police report neglects all evidence shown on video footage, and paints Patel as a malefactor, who initiated conversation with Miller, in hopes to kidnap her child. According to the Acworth police department, Patel “attempted to snatch a juvenile away from their mother” before he “fled the scene.”

Legal Concerns
Patel’s lawyer, Ashleigh Merchant, says this case should never have reached this point. She argues that the evidence doesn’t support the charges, and that the way Patel has been treated is a stain on the justice system. Patel didn’t even have a preliminary before his indictment! Merchant asserts that Patel’s skin color and name is the basis for his treatment. According to Police Score Card, the Acworth police department scored a 47% on police accountability and arrest accuracy, a score worse than 91% of police departments in the United States. With such abysmal scores, prejudice is likely a strong presence in the Acworth police department, which could have played a strong role in their impressively inaccurate police report.

Why This Matters
Patel’s inaccurate police report and failure to receive a hearing are a travesty of justice. Everyone deserves a fair chance to defend themselves, especially when evidence proves their innocence. Mahendra Patel’s story isn’t just his own. It’s about how easily someone’s life can change overnight, and how important it is for the legal system to provide due process, regardless of race. Please consider donating to Mahendra Patel’s GiveSendGo to help pay for legal fees.

Sources
Link to the video footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eEzuIkosmY
Police Scorecard. Acworth Police Department, GA: Scorecard at a Glance. Police Scorecard, www.policescorecard.org/ga/policedepartment/acworth#scorecard-at-a-glance
Kumar, Gunisha. “Georgia Man Wrongfully Jailed for Trying to Kidnap White Child, Family Says.” The Juggernaut, 30 Apr. 2025, www.thejuggernaut.com/georgia-walmartkidnapping-mahendra-patel-justice
Torpy, Bill. “Full Walmart Video Disputes Police Account of Child-Snatching Case.” The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 29 Apr. 2025, www.ajc.com/opinion/columnists/bill-torpy-fullwalmart-video-disputes-police-account-of-childsnatching-case/33ES7RHMKZANHAHCXDBB7SRYAU
FOX 5 Atlanta. “Video May Prove Georgia Man’s Innocence in Walmart Kidnapping Case.” FOX 5 Atlanta, 29 Apr. 2025, www.fox5atlanta.com/news/acworth-walmartkidnapping-attempt-video-may-proves-mansinnocence