MIAMI -- A 25-year-old Transportation Security Administration baggage handler was arrested Thursday at Miami International Airport, accused of illegally using a handicapped parking permit to park for free.

Bernard Olivier Forbes is charged with one count of third-degree grand theft, one count of making a false or misleading statement for issuance of a state handicapped permit and one count of cheating.

According to an arrest warrant, Forbes fraudulently obtained a disabled parking permit that he used to cheat the county out of $2,367 in parking fees by presenting it to cashiers at the MIA parking garages over a seven-month period.

Authorities said Forbes admitted to using the disabled parking permit because he was required to pay to park in the employee lot, and that he liked the convenience of parking near the terminal and not having to ride the employee bus.

Forbes was issued a permanent handicapped parking permit that was certified by a doctor in St. Petersburg. But in a sworn affidavit, Dr. Alan Smith said he didn't sign the application and that Forbes is not his patient.