A Kentucky convenience store manager is in jail after allegedly kidnapping and violently assaulting a man who was accused of stealing a box of vape pens.
Kaushalkumar Patel, 40, was discovered on October 6, 2024, at an EZ Superfood Mart in Louisville where customers left their purchases unpaid, and along with several others began a crazy conspiracy. Multiple media reported that he was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of carrying out the attack.
Police said the shoplifter fled the store after Patel and others chased him in a van and pepper sprayed him in the face.
The suspected thief reportedly crawled into the yard, where Patel pulled up his shorts, squirted mace into his anus and forced him into a van, police said. According to WDRB.
The group took the man to a garage near Patel's business, where they allegedly assaulted him by punching him, kicking him and hitting him with a piece of wood.
Police said the shoplifting suspect was forced back into the van and then dropped off on Lee Street, where his mother picked him up and drove him to the hospital for stitches. According to the Courier Journal.
He also suffered a concussion and bruises, the newspaper said.
The store owner was charged Friday with kidnapping, second-degree assault and wanton endangerment and pleaded not guilty.
Patel is being held at the Louisville Metro Detention Center on $100,000 bail, according to court records.
He is scheduled to return to court on January 24th.
