An Air Force veteran, and current holder of the Mr Louisiana title, is facing jail in Dubai after claiming he was drugged on a night out before being arrested by plainclothes police while on holiday.
Joseph Lopez, who was also being considered for the prestigious Mr USA title, may not be able to compete following his arrest.
The B-52 mechanic and Honor Guard member left the military nine months ago and began advocating for mental health on social media, with fans saying he’s “trying to inspire and make people laugh and relate.”
Lopez jetted off for a two-week vacation in Dubai before beginning her preparations for the beauty pageant.
But on June 2, he and his brother Joshua visited a popular Dubai club called Bla Bla, but the night ended in unexpected horror.
Joseph Lopez, the current Mr Louisiana title holder and Air Force veteran, was arrested in Dubai after a night out ended with him and his brother being “drugged” after a night of partying.
Lopez (left) pictured with his brother Joshua (right) before they were both arrested by plainclothes officers wearing “black ski masks” on June 3.
An Uber driver reportedly approached the brothers while they were outside the club and suggested they attend an after-party at a nearby hotel.
Lopez and Joshua accepted the offer and were taken straight to the VIP section where they were presented with plates of food, sparklers and drinks that the brothers had not requested.
About 20 minutes later, as the place was closing, Lopez was handed a bill, which he paid in full, despite feeling like he had been ripped off.
“Uber drivers and other promoters are paid by some locals to bring tourists,” said Radha Stirling, executive director of Detained in Dubai.
“In this case, it seems they have gone a step further by forcing them to eat and drink while making them appear free.”
Even though Lopez’s suspicions grew after his hefty and unexpected bill, he explained how a partygoer invited him out on a yacht before explaining that he was “already done spending the night.”
But the anonymous man persevered and told Lopez and Joshua that they would be his “American guests.”
The brothers eventually agreed and once they boarded the luxury boat, they were given a drink for which the staff later attempted to charge them more than $2,700, but Lopez refused several times.
The social media influencer later claimed he and his brother began to feel strange, before allegedly being confronted by a group of men speaking Arabic and wearing black ski masks.
They attempted to throw the brothers into the back of a vehicle and Lopez admitted he thought they were being kidnapped.
“They didn’t realise the men were plainclothes police officers,” Stirling said.
«Often plainclothes police officers forcefully approach tourists, grab them and intimidate them without identifying themselves.
‘Of course the tourist will defend himself from what he perceives as aggression or worse. “They end up wrongfully accused of resisting arrest or assaulting a police officer.”
The social media influencer left the military nine months ago and became a mental health advocate. Pictured: Lopez photographed in Dubai in an Instagram post, uploaded on May 27.
The terrified brothers were taken to Al Barsha, where they were held overnight and detained until June 12.
Upon arrival, they told officers they had been drugged, but police allegedly refused to test them.
The couple was reportedly not tested for alcohol for at least 24 hours, but several days later, authorities took a urine sample once any drug residue had left their bodies.
“Police typically take samples immediately upon arrival to preserve evidence against the detainee,” Stirling said.
“It is highly unusual and suspicious to wait several days for a test, particularly when they have already been informed about the risks.”
According to Lopez, his cellmates told the brothers that it is common in Dubai for visitors to be purposely drugged and taken advantage of.
Joseph and Joshua were granted bail with a travel ban on June 12.
They are not allowed to leave the country, even though neither has been officially charged with a crime.
The decision now rests with the prosecutor, but they have reportedly been considering charging the brothers with alcohol consumption, resisting arrest and damaging the patrol car before realizing that the masked men were police officers.
“The legal process in Dubai can drag on for months and often the punishment is the process,” Stirling said.
“We hope that the UAE authorities will abandon the investigation against Joseph and Joshua and move on to investigating those potentially involved in crimes against tourists.”
Joseph hopes to leave the country, continue his work in mental health and run for Mr USA.
If convicted, he will face years in prison in Dubai’s notorious prisons, where countless foreigners have been beaten, tortured and even murdered.