A Miami man has been arrested on charges of kidnapping and battery after police say he falsely claimed to be a rideshare driver and assaulted a woman. Alberto Angulo Lopez, 38, is accused of the attack, which allegedly occurred in the early hours of February 28, 2023, following a series of events that started at Club Vendome on Washington Avenue in Miami Beach.
The woman reported that after realizing their vehicle had been towed, she and a friend secured a ride to a tow yard with Lopez, whom she later described as being the assailant. She told NBC Miami in an interview, "I just remembered feeling like I was going to die." During the alleged assault, Lopez repeatedly groped her while she was in and out of consciousness due to intoxication, as per the arrest warrant.
Following an argument with her friend that led to their separation, the victim entered Lopez's vehicle under the impression that her friend had arranged a rideshare with him. However, instead of driving her straight home, Lopez allegedly took unnecessary turns to prolong the ride. He is also accused of molesting her over her clothing and making lewd remarks, according to an arrest warrant reported by Local10.
During the ordeal, the victim managed to contact her ex-boyfriend and share her location, which did not correspond to the route home but rather placed her near the Dadeland Mall and later on U.S. 1 in Pinecrest. Ultimately, after she threatened to involve law enforcement, Lopez dropped the woman off at her ex-boyfriend’s home and requested payment for the ride and gas, which she transferred out of fear.
Lopez was taken into custody at his residence on Northwest 118th Street and was being held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. Investigators utilized cell phone location data and license plate reader information to corroborate the victim's account, eventually leading to Lopez's identification when the victim spotted his full name and photo in his WhatsApp contact information after the monetary transaction. She subsequently identified him in a photo lineup, according to police reports. Lopez made multiple non-appearances when scheduled for interviews with the Miami Beach Police Department, which led to the issue of an arrest warrant.
