Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli announced the arrest of 38-year-old Yoseop Choi, of Fort Lee on charges of aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child.
The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit under the direction of Chief Carmen Martino and the Fort Lee Police Department.
On Wednesday, July 29, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Fort Lee Police Department arrested Choi after learning that he violently shook and assaulted by punching his five month old son on multiple occasions over two months.
On Tuesday, July 28, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit was informed by the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency that the five month old baby boy was brought to Bellevue Hospital in New York City, by Choi, suffering from cardiac arrest.
Due to the severity of his injuries and the critical nature of his condition, the investigation was turned over to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit.
Upon medical attention and testing, the baby was found to have a severe head injury and a healing rib fracture. Detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Fort Lee Police Department subsequently investigated and interviewed Choi.
The investigation determined the assault took place in Choi’s Fort Lee apartment, and as a result, he was arrested and charged.
The baby remains in critical condition at Bellevue Hospital.
Choi was charged with one count each of aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child.
His bail was set by the Honorable Susan J. Steele, P.J.S.C., at $750,000.00 with no ten percent option, no contact with the victim, and surrender of passport, as conditions of bail.
Choi was remanded to the Bergen County Jail in lieu of bail.