looks like Vick has some company

[Guest guest]

DMX's Arizona Home Raided; A Dozen Pit Bulls Removed From Residence

 

Police also discovered weapons cache; no charges have been filed against rapper.

 

by Chris Harris, with additional reporting by James Montgomery and Stephen

Totilo

 

 

Deputies with the Maricopa County sheriff's office raided the Cave Creek,

Arizona, home of rapper DMX on Friday morning (August 24), and according to a

police spokesperson, 12 pit bulls were removed from the residence, all in bad

condition. Police would not get into specifics but did say the animals are being

tended to by veterinarians.

 

At this point, DMX (real name: Earl Simmons) has not been officially charged

with any crime, but police are still investigating. DMX was not at his home at

the time of the raid, during which police also discovered a large cache of

weapons. Police do not believe the rapper is in Arizona but would like to

question him as part of their investigation.

 

A tipster notified police more than a week ago that dogs were being kept in

inhumane conditions at the rapper's property, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio

told MTV News. " They weren't getting proper food, they weren't getting proper

water, and they were tied outside in 115-degree heat, " Arpaio said. " We are

developing the investigation. " He added that the department is seeking

additional warrants to check the guns to determine if " they're legal, if he's

allowed to have weapons. "

 

According to Arpaio, the charred remains of at least one dog were recovered from

DMX's backyard, and the sheriff's department will be investigating the rapper's

possible involvement in illegal dogfighting. Police continue to explore the

grounds around DMX's home for more dog remains.

 

The rapper's attorney, Stacey Richman, defended her client, saying, " He loves

and lives for his animals " and " has caretakers for his homes and especially for

his animals. " According to Richman, " The caretaker [DMX had hired] was only

coming in once a day. Of course, that was not the arrangement. "

 

This isn't the first time police have taken an interest in DMX's dogs. Back in

2002, the rapper pleaded guilty in New Jersey to charges of animal cruelty,

stemming from a 1998 raid of DMX's home. Police claimed he had neglected 13 pit

bulls. He eventually plea-bargained down to fines, probation and community

service, and even starred in a public-service announcement against animal abuse.

 

The DMX news comes the same day that NFL star Michael Vick admitted his own

involvement with dogfighting (see " Why Does The Michael Vick Case Hurt

Hip-Hop? " ). The Atlanta Falcons quarterback told the U.S. District Court in

Richmond, Virginia, that he would plead guilty to " conspiracy to travel in

interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and to sponsor a dog in an

animal fighting venture. " Vick faces a maximum term of five years in prison and

$250,000 in fines. Later Friday evening, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell

announced that Vick has been suspended from the league indefinitely.

 

MTV News will have more on this story as it develops.

 

[This story was originally published at 5:51 p.m. ET on 08.24.2007]

 

 

" Naturally the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England,

nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the

leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter

to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship,

or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. ... Voice or no voice, the people

can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have

to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for

lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any

country. "

- General Herman Goering, President of German Reichstag & Nazi Party, Commander

of Luftwaffe