Most serious charges have been dropped against a Toronto shopkeeper who chased down and caught a shoplifter in May.

Kidnapping and weapons charges against David Chen have been dropped but he will continue to face charges of forcible confinement and assault.

Chen was charged with kidnapping, forcible confinement, assault and carrying a concealed weapon.

The Chinatown grocer was threatening a legal challenge against citizen's arrest laws if all of the charges weren't dropped.

Chen and two of his employees tackled, bound and locked a thief in a truck in May.

The Crown did not give any reason for withdrawing the charges.

-With files from The Canadian Press.