Florida man kidnaps woman after posing as rideshare driver

A Florida man has been charged with kidnapping and battery after allegedly abducting and groping a woman who believed he was her rideshare driver. 

Alberto Angulo Lopez, 38, was arrested on Tuesday following the incident that occurred in the early hours of 28 February 2023, according to an arrest warrant.

The 25-year-old victim, who chose to remain anonymous, told NBC6 she feels some relief knowing her alleged attacker is now in custody. 

"At this point, I'm just grateful that somebody who did so much damage to me is finally getting justice done to him," she said.

According to the warrant, the victim and a friend were at Club Vendome in Miami Beach when they discovered their car had been towed. 

They accepted a ride from a man whose last name the victim recalled as Lopez, whom she mistakenly believed to be a rideshare driver. 

The victim, intoxicated from the club, was in and out of consciousness when she awoke to find Lopez touching her inappropriately.

Lopez continued to touch the victim despite her pleas for him to stop. "He wouldn't stop touching my private parts," she told NBC6. 

The victim managed to share her location with her ex-boyfriend, revealing that Lopez had taken a different route. 

Eventually, Lopez dropped her off at her ex-boyfriend's home but demanded $50 for the ride, which she paid out of fear.

Investigators used mobile phone location data and licence plate reader information to track Lopez's route. Despite multiple attempts by police to meet with Lopez, he failed to cooperate. He was arrested on Tuesday and is being held without bail. 

The victim identified Lopez in a photo lineup after obtaining his photo and contact information from the payment app she used to send him money.

"I just remembered feeling like I was going to die," the victim said.