he was then allegedly "stomped in the back"
A US Indian shopkeeper was arrested for allegedly kidnapping and viciously beating a man who he believed had stolen a box of vape pens from his store.
The incident happened in Kentucky.
Kaushalkumar Patel, aged 40, was arrested on January 16, 2025.
He and several others allegedly carried out the plot on October 6, 2024, after spotting the man leaving his E-Z Super Food Mart in Louisville without paying.
According to police, the accused shoplifter fled from the store as Patel and several others chased him down in a van and pepper sprayed him in the face.
The man, who has not been identified, reportedly crawled into a yard where he was then allegedly “stomped in the back” by another individual.
Police said Patel “pulled up the victim’s shorts and sprayed his anus with pepper spray” before forcing him into the van.
The group took the man to a garage near Patel’s tore, where they allegedly punched, kicked and struck him with a piece of wood.
It was reported that the suspected shoplifter was forced back into the van and driven to Lee Street where he was dropped off.
The victim then called his mother to collect him.
He was driven to the hospital to get stitches. The man also suffered a concussion and bruising.
Patel has been charged with complicity in kidnapping, second-degree assault and wanton endangerment – a legal term that refers to reckless behaviour that creates a substantial risk of serious injury or death to others. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The shopkeeper is currently being held at Louisville Metro Detention Centre on a $100,000 bond.
Patel’s next court appearance is scheduled for January 24.
The incident is just one example of store owners or employees turning to violent methods to combat suspected shoplifters in the United States.
In December 2024, it was reported that a convenience store owner in North Carolina was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter for killing a man who allegedly stole a bottle of Gatorade.
The same month, a New Orleans store clerk shot and killed 16-year-old Cecil Batiz, who allegedly tried to rob the store at gunpoint.