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Would-be kidnapper chases terrorized female victim into karate studio. Boy, was that a bad idea.
Image source: WSOC-TV video screenshot

Would-be kidnapper chases terrorized female victim into karate studio. Boy, was that a bad idea.

Natural selection in action

A would-be kidnapping suspect got way, way more than he bargained for when he decided to chase down a woman and follow her into a Charlotte, North Carolina, karate studio, of all places.

What are the details?

Police arrested 47-year-old August Williams after he reportedly chased an unnamed woman into a karate studio Thursday.

Williams reportedly tried to kidnap the woman just before following her into the studio.

Williams came face to face with the dojo's head karate instructor when he entered the building, however, and ended up leaving the premises on a stretcher.

Capt. JD Thomas of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department told WSOC-TV that the woman was very lucky to have been able to run into a karate studio.

"It's a great thing the people in there were able to help defend her, extremely lucky that it was a karate studio and usually you don't see a suspect act like this," Thomas said.

Williams also reportedly attempted to assault the officers before they took him into custody.

Police said Williams was on drugs and has a prior record for both drugs and assault, according to the station.

Randall Ephraim, the dojo's head instructor, detailed the incident.

“There were still some kids in the dojo being picked up by parents and a couple of adult students cleaning up when a young lady came through our doors and stated that someone was trying to harm her," he explained.

“Shortly afterward, a big male entered the building," Ephraim continued. “Not knowing what he wanted, I assumed he was inquiring about classes."

He added, "I asked how I could assist him and he stated that he was there for the lady. She insisted that she did not know him and tried to kidnap her."

What happened next?

Ephraim said he told Williams to leave, but the suspect refused.

"He then tried to force himself further into the dojo, aggressively pushing and swinging," Ephraim added.

The instructor was able to force Williams out and away from the woman, and the suspect received his comeuppance fast.

“I then went into action defending myself and got him out of the dojo. Once outside he attempted to attack again and was dealt with accordingly," Ephraim said.

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