Police Find Drugs, Weapons And Abused Pit Bulls At DMX's Arizona Home

Police raided the Cave Creek, Arizona home of rapper DMX on Friday morning and claim to have found a large stash of assault-style weapons and a half-pound of illegal drugs. They also removed 12 pit bulls that they said were in bad condition and are now being treated by veterinarians.

DMX (real name Earl Simmons) wasn't at the residence at the time of the raid, which was conducted after police received a tip about the dogs being treated inhumanely.

"They weren't getting proper food, they weren't getting proper water, and they were tied outside in 115-degree heat," Maricopa County sheriff Joe Arpaio told MTV News.

Authorities are testing the drugs, which they believe are either cocaine or methamphetamine.

No charges have been laid, but additional warrants are being obtained to see if DMX legally owned the guns.

Three dog corpses were found in the back yard of the property and police want to find out if the hip-hop artist may be involved with illegal dog-fighting like suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, who's facing a maximum term of five years in prison and $250,000 U.S. in fines after agreeing to plea guilty to "conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture." He'll be sentenced on Dec. 10.

Lawyer Stacey Richman said that DMX "loves and lives for his animals" and had hired a caretaker to look after them when he wasn't at his Arizona home. Witnesses claim that the 36-year-old has been at the house within the last three weeks. But Murray Richman, another lawyer representing the MC, said he hadn't been there for two months and that "all sorts of people" had been staying there.

DMX pleaded guilty in New Jersey in 2002 to charges of animal cruelty, stemming from a 1998 raid of his home there. Police claimed that he had neglected 13 pit bulls. He struck a plea bargain and received fines, probation and community service. He also made a public-service announcement against animal abuse.

DMX has been in trouble with the law a number of other times. Check out the ChartAttack archives to refresh your memory on his past indiscretions.