Mark Pope Arrested: Miami Hurricanes Star Faces Robbery Charges

Former Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Mark Pope, 27, faces armed robbery and aggravated battery charges following his arrest Thursday, September 12, in Miami-Dade County. Authorities booked Pope into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

The arrest report states Pope and the alleged victim knew each other from their neighborhood. They met at a park on Southwest 218th Street. A dispute began inside the victim’s vehicle. Pope then reportedly pulled out a gun, struck the woman in the face with it, and forcibly took her phone.

The victim fled the vehicle and contacted police from a nearby gas station. Officers located Pope and took him into custody.

During a bond court appearance Friday, September 13, Pope’s defense attorney, Robert Pelier, argued for a reasonable bond. Pelier stated Pope works for a security company and has no prior arrests. “He’s a graduate of the University of Miami, was a standout on the University of Miami football team, was a standout on the football team at University of Massachusetts, this has to be some misunderstanding with some lady friend,” Pelier told the judge. The judge ordered Pope to house arrest with a GPS monitor and instructed him to stay away from the alleged victim.

Pope, a Miami native, attended Miami Southridge High School before joining the University of Miami Hurricanes in 2018. He played 34 games for the Hurricanes before transferring to Jackson State and then the University of Massachusetts. In 2024, he signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League but was released in 2025.