Attempted Kidnapping At Lake Forest Area Shopping Center, Cops Say

LAKE FOREST, CA — On Saturday, a man suspected of attempting to drag an employee of a Woodbury Town Center store by the hair into a storage room was sought by Irvine police. By Monday, a suspect was located and arrested according to that department.

Police released surveillance video and photos of the attempted kidnapping, which occurred just after 2:15 p.m. Saturday at the Mon Beau Bebe store at the 6200 block of Irvine Blvd., according to Kim Mohr of the Irvine Police Department.

Charlie Choi, a 47-year-old Irvine was arrested about 4:30 p.m. Monday afternoon at his home in the 300 block of Fountainhead in the Portola Springs area, Mohr said.

Police used tips from the public, social media and other investigative leads to track Choi down, she said.

During the attempted kidnapping, a short interaction took place between the suspect and the woman.

"As she looked away for a moment, she was grabbed by the hair by the suspect, who attempted to drag her into the storage room!" Mohr said. "The woman struggled with the man, and when she told him the store had surveillance cameras, he let her go and fled."

Irvine Police Department Photo