A 40-year-old Indian-origin man in the United States has been arrested for kidnapping and severely beating a man on suspicion of stealing goods from his convenience store in Kentucky. according to New York Post, Kaushalkumar Patel was arrested on Thursday as he and several others allegedly hatched a deranged conspiracy in October 2024 after they witnessed a customer steal a box of vape pens from their Easy Super Food Mart.
Police said the accused shopkeeper fled on foot after which Patel and several others chased him in a van and sprayed pepper spray on his face. The man crawled into a yard, where another man allegedly “pushed him hard in the back,” the outlet reported.
According to police, Patel allegedly “pulled down the victim’s shorts and sprayed pepper spray in his anus before dragging him into the van”. The group reportedly took the man to a garage near Patel’s convenience store, where they allegedly punched, kicked and hit him with a piece of wood.
The accused shoplifter, whose identity has not been released, was put back into the van and driven to Lee Street where he was released. After this the victim called his mother to pick him up.
According to the man, he suffered a laceration and a laceration and required stitches on his right calf Post,
Patel has been charged with kidnapping, second-degree assault and wanton endangerment — a legal term that refers to reckless behavior that creates a substantial risk of serious injury or death to others. He has declared himself innocent of the charges. He is currently being kept in the Louisville Metro Detention Center.
Patel’s next court appearance is scheduled for January 24.
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Notably, the recent incident is just one example of store owners or employees adopting violent methods to deal with suspected shoplifters. according to newsweekLast month, a convenience store owner in North Carolina was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter for the killing of a man who allegedly stole a bottle of Gatorade.
That same month, a clerk at a New Orleans store shot and killed 16-year-old Cecil Batiz, who allegedly tried to rob the store, at gunpoint.
