BY VEENA RAO
Acworth, GA, October 1, 2025: Mahendra “Mick” Patel, a Kennesaw resident, has filed a formal ante litem notice through his legal counsel The Merchant Law Firm, seeking $25 million in damages from the City of Acworth. The notice says Patel was falsely arrested, wrongfully jailed for 46 days, and maliciously prosecuted after being accused of trying to kidnap a child at a Walmart store in March 2025 — charges that were later dropped.
According to the notice, Patel went to the Walmart Supercenter on Cobb Parkway on March 18, 2025 to buy Tylenol for his elderly mother. There, he briefly interacted with a woman, Caroline Miller, who was riding a motorized cart with her two children. Patel says he thought she was disabled and tried to help her steady a child she was holding. He insists the contact was brief and harmless.
Miller, however, later told police that Patel tried to “snatch her baby.” The incident led to a kidnapping charge by the Acworth Police Department (APD). Patel was arrested on March 21 by a Cobb County officer based on a warrant obtained with what his attorney calls false or misleading information from an APD detective.
Patel’s letter states that police ignored Walmart surveillance footage, which showed the two parting ways calmly and without any sign of distress. He says the footage was withheld from the grand jury, which indicted him on attempted kidnapping, assault, and battery.
He remained behind bars for more than six weeks, unable to secure bond. The charges were dismissed on August 6, 2025, after prosecutors filed a nolle prosequi, meaning they chose not to pursue the case.
In the 12-page notice sent to Acworth officials, Patel details harsh conditions in the Cobb County Detention Center, where he says he was threatened by inmates, denied vegetarian meals, and lost 17 pounds.
He describes filthy living conditions, lack of medical care, and racial taunts.
Patel says the experience has left him with PTSD, anxiety, and nightmares.
The notice alleges that the City of Acworth and its police department acted negligently, defamed him publicly, and violated his constitutional rights. His attorney argues that the city failed to properly train and supervise its officers, leading to Patel’s false arrest and imprisonment.
City of Acworth Denies All Liability
In a response letter dated September 19, the city’s attorney, Douglas R. Haynie, said that after a “thorough and complete investigation,” the Mayor and Board of Aldermen voted to deny the claim.
The city “denies any and all liability” related to the matter.
The city also reserved the right to challenge whether Patel’s notice met all legal and procedural requirements under Georgia law.
What Happens Next
An ante litem notice is a required step before suing a city in Georgia. It gives the city a chance to review and resolve claims before a lawsuit is filed. With Acworth’s denial, Patel’s attorney is expected to pursue a civil lawsuit in court.
Patel’s case drew national attention earlier this year when video footage emerged contradicting the initial kidnapping allegation. His attorney, Ashleigh Merchant, maintains that Patel was an innocent man “trying to help a stranger,” and that his life and reputation were destroyed by a rush to judgment.
