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Pinkberry Co-founder Arrested at LAX

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

“The LAPD’s Asian Crime Unit did a top-notch job on this case, which occurred in the Rampart Area, at the 101 Freeway and Vermont Avenue, back in June 2011,” explained Lt. Paul Vernon, commanding officer of the Central Detective Division. “This case is emblematic of how the homeless are among the most vulnerable in our society.”

According to police records, a homeless man was begging at the off ramp of the freeway 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.

“Despite the challenges in the case, the detectives never gave up and eventually found the victim after leads took them to Skidrow and the local jail,” Lt. Vernon explained. “Witnesses picked out Lee from a photo display and a judge issued a warrant for his arrest.” Detectives also seized the tire iron from the rental car as part of their investigation.

When federal databases alerted detectives that Lee was inbound on a flight from his native Korea on January 16, 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. Tipsters can remain anonymous by calling into Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477), or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Online tips may be placed at www.LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompts.

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