DMX faces indictment over dogs’ treatment
Published 10:10 pm Friday, May 9, 2008
PHOENIX — DMX was arrested on drug and animal-cruelty charges following an overnight raid on the rapper’s house Friday, authorities said.
The 37-year-old rapper, whose given name is Earl Simmons, initially tried to barricade himself in his bedroom but emerged when a SWAT team entered his north Phoenix home during the 3 a.m. raid, sheriff’s spokesman Capt. Paul Chagolla said.
The arrest and search warrants stemmed from indictments for felony drug possession and misdemeanor animal cruelty charges. He made an initial court appearance Friday where bail was sent at $7,500, said his local attorney, Cameron Morgan. Morgan said he expected bail to be posted quickly.
The indictment stems from an August search of the rapper’s home prompted by reports of dogs being abused on his property. Detectives seized 12 pit bull dogs, dug up remains of three others and found marijuana on the rural property.
During Friday’s raid, officials said more drugs were found and weapons seized and additional charges were possible.
Simmons’ New York lawyer, Murray Richman, said he told his client to expect such a raid after his efforts to make DMX available to law enforcement were rebuffed.
“I anticipated it, I explained to my client what was going to happen,” Richman said. He said he believed evidence did not support the charges of animal cruelty, which has been a major focus of Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
DMX recorded the 1999 hit single “Party Up (Up in Here).” His last album, “Year of the Dog … Again,” was released last year.
