Higgs Arrested for Impersonator’s Crimes

Mark Higgs, Miami Dolphin running back, was arrested by mistake early Tuesday after deputies discovered felony warrants for a con man who had been impersonating him.

Higgs was stopped for speeding on a Ft. Lauderdale freeway at 2:45 a.m. by a Broward County deputy. Checking for outstanding warrants, the deputy discovered two from 1991 for “Mark Higgs, also known as Irving Bailey,” and took Higgs to the county jail, where he was booked.

Bailey began impersonating Higgs, 26, last year in a case that has been widely publicized. Bailey’s whereabouts have been unknown by authorities since September, 1991.

“It’s probably going to become a homicide story if Mark ever gets hold of him,” said Stu Weinstein, the Dolphins’ security director.

Higgs and Weinstein explained the situation to Broward County deputies, who responded that the warrants--for grand theft and obtaining property with a worthless check--nonetheless left them obligated to take Higgs to jail. He was released three hours later on $2,000 bond and expects the arrest record to be expunged soon.