Video: Man arrested after trying to kidnap, drag woman by the hair into store stockroom

IRVINE, Calif. (FOX 11 / CNS) - A man suspected of attempting to drag an employee of a Woodbury Town Center store by the hair into a storage room was arrested late Monday by Irvine police.

Police earlier released surveillance video of the attempted kidnapping, which occurred just before 7:20 p.m. Saturday at the Mon Beau Bebe store at 6226 Irvine Blvd., according to Kim Mohr of the Irvine Police Department.

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

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

The video captured a short interaction 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.

The woman struggled with the man, and when she told him the store had surveillance cameras, he let her go and fled, Mohr said.

A colleague in the store told FOX 11's Hal Eisner, "My heart just dropped...it's pretty heartbreaking." She adds, more precautions have been put in place. She says, "we were doubling up on shifts and making sure nobody is ever alone."

Anyone with additional information in regards to this case are asked to call Detective Ed Kim at (949) 724-7179 or via email at ekim@cityofirvine.org, or Detective Keith Herter at (949) 724-7183, kherter@cityofirvine.org.

Copyright 2017 FOX 11 Los Angeles : Download our mobile app for breaking news alerts or to watch FOX 11 News | Follow us on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , and YouTube . Be a citizen journalist for FOX 11 and get paid - download the Fresco News App today.