ACWORTH, Ga. (Diya TV) — Charges have been dropped against a Georgia man accused of attempting to kidnap a toddler at a Walmart in the Atlanta area. Prosecutors said Wednesday they were “satisfied that the ends of justice have been met” after reviewing the case and meeting with the child’s mother.
Mahendra Patel, 57, faced serious charges after an incident on March 18 at a Walmart in Acworth, Georgia. Authorities accused Patel of trying to pull a 2-year-old boy away from his mother, Caroline Miller, sparking public outrage and a viral petition. The case drew nearly 100,000 signatures online, with many calling for justice and questioning the role of racial bias.
Patel was indicted in April on charges of criminal attempt to commit kidnapping, simple assault, and simple battery. He spent 45 days in jail before being released on a $10,000 bond in May.
But this week, the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office told a judge it would no longer pursue charges. The decision followed a review of evidence and a meeting with Miller. All parties agreed to dismiss the case.
The case took a turn after Patel’s attorney, Ashleigh Merchant, released security footage from the store. The video showed Patel speaking with Miller, who was seated in a mobility scooter. Her child sat on her lap.
At one point, the child appeared to slip. Patel told investigators he was only trying to keep the child from falling. He said he asked Miller for help finding Tylenol, and when she pointed in the direction of the medicine, he reached to steady the toddler.
“Mr. Patel offered to hold the baby while she got up to show him where the Tylenol was,” Merchant said in court.
Miller, however, had told police and local news that Patel grabbed her son from her arms, leading to a “tug of war” over the child. She reported the incident to police, who later issued an arrest warrant.
Speaking after the court hearing, Merchant criticized how police handled the case. She said investigators failed to gather all the facts before arresting Patel.
“I hope and I’ve always hoped this in my entire career that the police do a better job of investigating the truth,” she said.
Patel, a local business owner, said the arrest and jail time devastated his family. He described the ordeal as a nightmare that finally came to an end with the court’s decision.
“This thing was hanging on my head for a long time,” Patel told WXIA-TV. “Our family went through a lot of hell.”
The Cobb County District Attorney’s Office said it decided to dismiss the charges after a productive meeting with the people involved. District Attorney Sonya Allen confirmed that her office was confident justice had been served.
In a statement, Acworth Police said they conducted interviews and reviewed all available information before obtaining an arrest warrant. They stood by their original decision to file charges, saying they acted based on the evidence available at the time.
Now free and cleared of all charges, Patel said he is ready to move on but remains wary of future interactions.
“Next time I’ll think twice, but knowing me, I’m a helping guy,” he said.
The case has reignited discussions around race, assumptions, and how quickly situations can escalate. Patel’s supporters say he was wrongfully accused and hope the incident encourages more thorough investigations in the future.
For Patel, the outcome brought relief. “I think I’m just going to enjoy my life, of course,” he said.
