Man claiming to be Uber driver kidnaps woman from Miami Beach, fondles her, cops say

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Police arrested a northwest Miami-Dade man on kidnapping and battery charges Tuesday after they said he claimed to be an Uber driver and drove a woman against her will, all while fondling her and making lewd remarks.

An arrest warrant had been out for Alberto Angulo Lopez, 38, since June 10.

According to an arrest warrant from the Miami Beach Police Department, the incident happened at around 4:30 on the morning of Feb. 28, 2023, after Angulo Lopez picked up the woman and her friend from Vendôme, a nightclub at 743 Washington Ave. on South Beach.

Police said the woman and her friend got in with Angulo Lopez after their vehicle had been towed; they said Angulo Lopez drove the pair to a tow yard.

The warrant states that the victim was “in and out of consciousness” after consuming several drinks that night. It states that after her friend got out of the vehicle to speak with the towing company, the victim woke up to Angulo Lopez “touching her buttocks and breast.”

Police said the victim and her friend parted ways for the night after an argument and the victim agreed to let Angulo Lopez, claiming to be an Uber driver, take her to her home in the Tamiami area of west Miami-Dade.

But authorities allege that Angulo Lopez instead drove the victim south. During the drive, police said Angulo Lopez “touched her private parts over her clothing,” despite her asking him to “stop.”

Police said the woman called her ex-boyfriend and shared her location, which put her near the Dadeland Mall. Cellphone and license plate reader data would later put both along U.S. 1 in Pinecrest just after 5:45 a.m.

While she was on the phone with her ex, police said Angulo Lopez “continued feeling on her breasts and asked if they were real, inquiring if she had ever had ‘Cuban’ penis and asked the victim to try his.”

The warrant states Angulo Lopez dropped the woman off at her ex’s house after she told him her family was “looking for her” and threatened to call the police. Authorities said Angulo Lopez asked for $55 for the ride and gas, which she paid him electronically “since she feared him being aggressive toward her.”

Police said the woman met with police the next day.

The monetary transaction helped identify Angulo Lopez, according to police: His full name and photo popped up in his WhatsApp contact information.

Authorities said the victim picked Angulo Lopez out of a photo lineup and multiple attempts to schedule an interview with him failed, so police requested an arrest warrant.

Miami-Dade police arrested him at around 8:15 Tuesday morning at his home on Northwest 118th Street in the county’s Pinewood area.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Angulo Lopez was being held without bond in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.