An alleged kidnapper followed a woman into a karate studio. It didn’t go well

Ryan W. Miller, USA TODAYPublished 7:10 p.m. ET Jan. 4, 2019

(Photo: Robert Cicchetti, Getty Images)

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A man in North Carolina allegedly attempted to kidnap a woman, but she led him somewhere he couldn’t fight his way out of – a karate studio.

Local media in Charlotte reported that August Williams was arrested after an instructor at Bushiken Karate Charlotte Dojo fended him off when he followed the woman into the school.

Police said Williams tried to force the woman into his car but she made it into the studio, WSOC-TV reported.

Williams was charged with attempted kidnapping, assault and other offenses related to the incident Thursday, WBTV reported. He allegedly had an altercation with police officers who arrived at the scene and was later taken to the hospital for his injuries.

“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,” police Capt. –JD Thomas said, per WSOC-TV.

Head instructor Randall Ephraim told CNN that he was cleaning with a few child and adult students still in the dojo when the women came in. Soon after, the man entered, Ephraim told the network.

“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,” Ephraim said.

Williams wouldn’t leave at Ephraim’s request and soon got physical, the karate teacher told CNN.

“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,” he said.