Business Owner Arrested at LAX NR12025bb

Los Angeles:  Members of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Fugitive Warrants Task Force arrested 47-year-old Young Lee, on an outstanding felony warrant for aggravated assault, related to an evening attack on a homeless man near downtown Los Angeles on June 15, 2011.  Lee is the co-founder of the Pinkberry yogurt franchise.

According to police records, a homeless man was begging at the off ramp of the 101 Freeway and Vermont Avenue when Lee and a companion had words with the man.  According to witnesses, the two men chased and beat the homeless man, who was later treated at the hospital.  Detectives could not locate the homeless man for a time, but were able to get information from a number of witnesses, including the license plate of the attackers’ Range Rover which returned to a rental in Lee’s name.

When federal databases alerted detectives that Lee was inbound on a flight from his native Korea on January 16, 2012, detectives from the task force and the FBI met Lee at the airport and arrested him.  His bail was set at $60,000.  Detectives have not identified Lee’s companion.

The Fugitive Warrant Task Force follows up on most felony warrants that are issued in cases handled by detectives at neighborhood police stations, or in cases when the suspect is a foreign national, which frees up detectives to work on other cases while the task force detectives look for the warrant suspect.

The LAPD accepts tips on crime. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247).  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.