BARTLETT, TN (abc24.com) - Victor Garada spent six days in the Shelby County Jail after being falsely accused of attempted rape. Garada tells abc24.com he was surprised when Bartlett Police detectives came to arrest him.
Garada lost his way, and his freedom, after 22-year-old Angela Poindexter accused him of attempted rape.
"For six days, I didn't eat anything," he tells abc24.com. "I lost a lot."
The Bartlett businessman claims he doesn't know Poindexter.
"Why she did that," he says, "I don't know. Maybe she does not have a heart. Maybe she does not have a mom or dad."
His time in jail has taken its toll on him.
"I'm not normal like before," he says.
Garada and his wife own the Gelato Cafe in Bartlett. The Garada's say business has struggled because of the false accusations. They're hoping customers return now that his name has been cleared.
Angela Poindexter was charged with filing a false police report. She admitted to Bartlett detectives she made the story up because of a dispute over money with someone in Garada's family.
"I can't believe this," says Garada, "it's been a bad dream. I swear to God, I lost my way. I lost my way."
