The $i$-dimensional Potts lattice Higgs model is a random assignment of spins in $\mathbb{Z}_q$ to the $i$-dimensional cells of a cell complex induced by a Hamiltonian with a Potts interaction on the $(i+1)$-cells and an additional term playing the role of an external field. We develop a representation of this model as a pair of dependent plaquette percolations, and prove that Wilson line expectations can be expressed in terms of the probability of a topological event. As an application, we prove the existence of a phase transition for the Marcu--Fredenhagen ratio in the Potts lattice Higgs model on $\mathbb{Z}^d$ when $i=1.$