Kentucky business owner accused of kidnapping, viciously beating suspected vape thief

A business owner is behind bars for allegedly kidnapping and viciously beating a man suspected of stealing a box of vape pens from his convenience store in Kentucky. 

Kaushalkumar Patel, 40, was arrested on Thursday after he and several others allegedly carried out the deranged plot on Oct. 6, 2024, after spotting the customer leaving his E-Z Super Food Mart in Louisville without paying, multiple outlets reported. 

Police said the accused shoplifter fled from the store as Patel and others chased him down in a van and pepper sprayed him in the face.

The alleged thief reportedly crawled into a yard before Patel pulled up his shorts and blasted mace in his anus before forcing him into the van, police said, according to WDRB.

The group took the man to a garage near Patel’s business, where they allegedly punched, kicked and then whacked him with a piece of wood.

The suspected shoplifter was shoved back into the van and later dropped off at Lee Street where his mother picked him up and drove him to the hospital to get stitches, police said, according to the Courier Journal.

He also suffered a concussion and bruising, the outlet reported.

The store owner was arraigned Friday on charges of kidnapping, second-degree assault and wanton endangerment, of which he pleaded not guilty. 

Patel is being held at Louisville Metro Detention Center on $100,000 bond, according to court records. 

He is due back in court on Jan. 24.