ACWORTH, Ga. — The man once accused of attempting to kidnap a child in a Walmart is demanding the City of Acworth pay him $25 million for false arrest.
He spoke with Channel 2’s Courtney Francisco on WSB Tonight at 11 p.m. about the pending lawsuit.
“This is not some game,” said Patel. “This is a real impact on people, and the public has trust in you. You violated that trust.”
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Police arrested him at gunpoint on the side of Cobb Parkway in March.
“Oh, my heart just stopped beating. I was traumatized, and any one wrong move, literally, they can shoot me,” said Patel.
He said his first thought was of his mother at home alone.
“She was handicapped, 86-year-old woman,” said Patel. “She was sitting right here on this sofa waiting for me.”
At the jail, Patel said he nearly had a heart attack.
“They took me to the emergency room, handcuffed me to the bed,” said Patel.
He later learned that a woman he asked for help finding the medicine aisle in Walmart told police he tried to steal her baby right out of her arms. That woman, Caroline Miller, described it as a tug of war for her child.
Patel said he thought her baby was going to fall. So, he was leaning in to help.
“If somebody is in danger, I don’t care what’s going to happen to me, I’m going to try to help. Especially, the kids and elderly,” said Patel.
“I was sleepless. It was loud. I saw people jumping each other,” said Patel. “Every time I talked to my family, they were crying on the phone. My younger daughter, who is in medical school, started failing grades.”
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He said his landlord business and tenants suffered, not to mention his reputation.
He’s notified the city of Acworth of his plan to file a lawsuit.
“It takes a toll on you. I mean, these charges can carry 25 years in jail,” said Patel.
The mother involved in this case has not responded to requests to comment.
The city and county declined to comment pending litigation.
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