Irvine, Calif. (June 19, 2017)– Irvine Police Department detectives have arrested the suspect in an attempted kidnapping that occurred Saturday evening at Woodbury Town Center.
Charlie Choi, 47, of Irvine was arrested at approximately 4:30 p.m. Monday at his home in the 300 block of Foutainhead, in the Portola Springs area.
Just before 7:20 p.m., a woman was working alone at the Mon Beau Bebe store at 6226 Irvine Blvd. when a man entered the store. When the woman looked away, the man grabbed her by the hair and attempted to drag her into the storage room. The woman tried to fight off her attacker and told him there were video surveillance cameras in the store. The man released her and ran out of the store and through the shopping center. Video surveillance cameras captured the attack.
On Monday morning, IPD released a photo of Choi along with a surveillance video of the attack. Police used investigative leads as well as information from the community to apprehend Choi.
The investigation in this case is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Ed Kim at 949-724-7179 or ekim@cityofirvine.org.
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