DMX Busted at Home for Pot, Pit Bulls
DMX apparently isn't one for facing the music of the night.
Three days after getting busted for a months-old traffic violation, the actor-rapper was arrested early Friday at his Phoenix-area home on suspicion of animal abuse and felony drug possession following a search of the house and, before that, a brief standoff with police when he attempted to shut himself up in his bedroom.
According to the Maricopa County sheriff's office, a SWAT team executed a search warrant on DMX's Cave Creek, Ariz., residence at about 3 a.m. in connection with a seven-month-old investigation into reports that the Cradle 2 the Grave star had a number of malnourished pit bulls on his property.
"A guy like this DMX character with all his money and fame has no excuse for not providing proper care for his animals," said Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. "He has a long criminal history and obviously has no respect for the law."
DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons, tried holing up in his room when the fuzz first arrived, but officers quickly talked him into cooperating, after which they discovered weapons, drugs and five pit bull puppies, which were taken to a nearby prison where female inmates will look after them (the pups, not the guns and drugs).
The rapper was subsequently booked into Fourth Avenue Jail and charged with seven misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and four counts of felony drug possession, per Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. He's due in court May 15.
Meanwhile, DMX's attorney says the hassle at his client's home was unnecessary and that it may have been the hip-hop star's smart mouth that earned him a house call.
"His home was raided by Sheriff Joe allegedly in violation of not coming to court for a moving violation," lawyer Murray Richman told E! News. Authorities "broke the windows and knocked the door down with the SWAT team in order to effectuate the travel violations and arrested him for possession of marijuana.
"Bail was set for $7,500 and he's on his way out now."
Interestingly, Richman added, "they also charged him for the dogs from 10 months ago, even though he wasn't there.
"I think [that] Earl, when he was caught on video just this week speeding at 114 miles per hour, just rubbed it in [the sheriff's] face, so the sheriff felt he had to do something. From what I hear, I would've been glad to bring Earl in if they ever requested it. I called the sheriff on numerous occasions and never, ever received a phone call."
Per the sheriff's office, DMX's Cave Creek home was raided in August after "numerous complaints came in concerning neglected animals on his property."
Following the initial search, 12 pit bull mixes were removed from the premises and taken to a veterinary ER to be treated for dehydration and malnutrition. Detectives also found the carcasses of three other dogs partially buried on site, as well as guns, ammunition, drugs and drug paraphernalia inside the house.
There was no comment on why it took so darn long to get from A to B, but Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas said he will be prosecuting this case as he would any other.
"A person's celebrity status does not preclude this office from bringing charges against a defendant," he said. "We are handling this case as we would any other incident of animal cruelty."
—Additional reporting by Josh Grossberg
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66 Comments
nothingbutagthng Fri, May 9, 2008 4:41 PM
well x you know how the police look at us anyway if you not dirty they can't do anything but hate us. Stay clean you don't have a reason in the world to be caught dirty.
ReportAllison Cunningham Fri, May 9, 2008 4:58 PM
Disgusting. I thought he has been in trouble for animal cruelty before? And somehow he was allowed to own animals again? There is something truly evil about human beings who abuse animals.
Reporttom Fri, May 9, 2008 5:21 PM
Just another "african american" for all them kids look up to doing disgusting things to animals. He should be shot.
Reportsarah Fri, May 9, 2008 5:38 PM
I hope he rots in prison for animal cruelty!
ReportMark Fri, May 9, 2008 5:41 PM
He absolutely disgusts me! How dare anyone neglect an animal and treat it with such little respect. He should be destroyed and his carcass should be tossed on the side of the road!
Reportbob Fri, May 9, 2008 6:04 PM
disgusting piece of filth. anyone who abuses animals should be shot
ReportCheri Fri, May 9, 2008 6:04 PM
I've ALWAYS thought the guy was an idiot. This just adds to the shame.
ReportShannon Fri, May 9, 2008 6:08 PM
I don't understand why "big, important" black guys think dog fighting is cool. I'm sure it happens other places, but we just don't hear enough about it. It is the most deplorable "sport" imaginable. I hope that all his fans take this into consideration, and NEVER buy another thing from him.
Reportdudeny Fri, May 9, 2008 6:18 PM
what a scumbag. i am sure some fuckwad will defend him with comments like "it's his heritage" or "he didn't have a good role model as a kid". Depriving a poor dumb dog(s) of food and water? Put the douche in jail and feed/water him every 4 or 5 days.
Reportstacey Fri, May 9, 2008 6:26 PM
ANIMAL ABUSERS! this is digusting so much money but starves these poor dogs...I will never listen to his ruff ruff shyte anymore... throw em in prison like VIC!
ReportMoney Fri, May 9, 2008 6:35 PM
I hope Obama wins the presidency...thugs like this will longer have the exuse to blame whitey for their problems.
Report935 Fri, May 9, 2008 6:41 PM
Po got nothing better to do Search and Destroy "As well as felony marajuana possesion) Fools doin real stuff out there must just be too smart HA
ReportT Fri, May 9, 2008 6:43 PM
Some of you sound like real ignorant Idiots! Why does abusing animals and having pot in your house lead you to associate that with being a 'big bad African American black guy' or 'in his heritage'? Just cause two African American Media personalities have been involved in animal abuse lately? Got news for you...there's plenty of White guys, Mexicans, etc that abuse animals, and fight dogs. Stupid! And no, I'm not defending him for his actions. He deserves everything ***** get and more...my point is only to those idiots that bring race into it that it's not a racial issue...but then again, if you're a racist (dumb a**) then everything is about race.
ReportJonyRotN Fri, May 9, 2008 7:10 PM
Yo Yo Yo D, woof woof, where are all your dogs now, grrr, woof woof!
Reportjay Fri, May 9, 2008 7:14 PM
well said T!!!
Reporttsun Fri, May 9, 2008 7:14 PM
Never bought an album this guy put out,never saw a movie he was in * and now I really NEVER will. Cowardly, disgusting behavior. I hope he follows Michael Vick to jail.
ReportIslandBoy Fri, May 9, 2008 7:27 PM
DMAhole can go straight to DMhell as far as I'm concerned * same goes for anyone who continues to support his b/s!
Reportgossipgirl16 Fri, May 9, 2008 7:32 PM
***** that is a humongous picture of DMX.
ReportO.U.N. Fri, May 9, 2008 7:35 PM
you can take the ***** outta the ghetto but you can't take the ghetto outta the ****** Q.E.D.
ReportVanessa Fri, May 9, 2008 7:51 PM
T, First it was Vic and now it's DMX, and both happen to be black and got caught for the same cr&at;p hardly 6 months apart. You honestly think people AREN'T going to say "hmm"? White people who F-UP get media scrutiny as well, but how many white celebrities do you see getting in trouble for murder, violence, abuse, etc? Drugs and drunk driving, yes, I think white celebrities actually dominate in that. But for some reason, black "thug" celebrities, excel in violent behavior. You'd think with the money they've made, they'd buy a clue, but like they say, you can take a boy out of the hood but you can't take the hood out of the boy. Blacks like DMX and Vic, I can't stand. And as harsh as this sounds, I hate the fact that the color of my skin is even associated with theirs. They're sick and are a disgrace to other black individuals who are good people, even if they don't have much to begin with. I'm proud to be black but it's shameful to see what black "thugs" do with their opportunities
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