According to documents obtained by the Tuscaloosa Patch, former Lions defensive tackle Isaiah Buggs is facing two misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty after two dogs were found at a residence he had lived in.
According to the civil petition, the Tuscaloosa Police Department received information on March 28 stating two dogs were left on the back porch at a residence located at 5153 Diamond Circle.
The petition goes on to say when Tuscaloosa police and the City of Tuscaloosa's Animal Control officers arrived, they found a grey and white pitbull on the screened-in back porch, surrounded in feces, with no access to food or water. Those who responded also found a black rottweiler mix locked in a metal cage in direct sunlight with no access to food or water.
The dogs were seized that day, and they were "malnourished, emaciated and neglected."
The residence appeared to be abandoned, and a neighbor told police the dogs had been on the back porch for at last 10 days. Investigators found the residence had been rented to Buggs, and police reported his lease had been terminated on April 15 due to his owing over $3,100 in back rent. Witnesses said Buggs moved out of the house on or about March 19.
The pitbull had to be euthanized, after becoming increasingly aggressive and failing heartworm treatment. The rottweiler weighed just 52 pounds and tested positive for Parvo when it arrived at the shelter.
Authorities then reportedly tried to get in touch with Buggs on March 28, but were unsuccessful. As of Wednesday, the petition says two misdemeanor warrants have been obtained for second-degree cruelty to dogs or cats.
Former Lions DT Isaiah Buggs expected to be charged with animal cruelty
Buggs landed with the Lions in 2022, starting 13 games that season while playing in all 17. Last season started on an odd note with him being a healthy scratch for the season opener, and head coach Dan Campbell offering a straight-forward reason for the benching. Buggs had skipped OTAs, for reasons unknown, so that certainly turned the once-positive vibe about him the other direction.
Buggs wound up playing 10 games for the Lions last season, before being waived on January 2. The Kansas City Chiefs signed him to their practice squad, and he signed a futures deal with them after the season.
Update, 5:05 p.m. ET: Per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Buggs' agent Trey Robinson has issued a statement.
Here's part of the statement:
"We believe the City of Tuscaloosa's decision to file the charges today is part of a concerted effort by the City of Tuscaloosa and its Police Department to besmirch Mr. Buggs' name and reputation as part of an on-going subversive campaign to force the close of his local business Kings Hookah Lounge."
Statement from #Chiefs DL Isaiah Buggs’ agent, Trey Robinson, who says his client has been the subject of police harassment and arrested two times over his refusal to close his Tuscaloosa hookah joint. pic.twitter.com/jX1aolYQLy
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 29, 2024
In the statement, Robinson says the dogs don't belong to Buggs, he didn't know they remained on the property and he would "never condone the mistreatment of any animal." Robinson also alleges the animal cruelty charges are tied to efforts to get Buggs to surrender his business license, and when he refused to do so the charges and two apparent prior arrests were publicized