DMX Discovered At Scott Storch's House

12/10/08 12:28pm

by Steve McLean (CHARTattack)

Producer Scott Storch has had well-documented financial problems and a warrant was out for his arrest earlier this year for failing to appear in court for a child-support case, so it may not be surprising that fugitive rapper DMX was found at Storch's Palm Island, Fla. mansion on Tuesday.

After all, the Nova Scotia-born Storch could provide an understanding shoulder for DMX to cry on ("I've been there, bro") and then, when enough empathy was shown, he could turn DMX into authorities and collect the $5,000 U.S. reward (about $6,300 Canadian) that was placed on his head.

DMX (real name Earl Simmons) was arrested by FBI agents at Storch's house on Tuesday on a warrant issued by a Phoenix, Az. judge for skipping a court appearance on Friday.

DMX was apparently at a Miami-area rehabilitation facility, but patient confidentiality laws prevented local police from confirming whether he was there. That's when federal authorities were called in.

"A call went out earlier this morning in regards to his location, and the regular police went out to that location, which was a recovery clinic, but because of health care laws, the clinic wouldn't confirm whether he was there," lawyer Bradford Cohen told MTV News. "So the cops left, and apparently the sheriff down here didn't like that too much, so he called in the feds."

Cohen said he wasn't sure about what sort of relationship DMX and Storch had, or if Storch was at home when the arrest was made. The attorney apparently believed that DMX had checked into a rehab clinic around Dec. 1, but was unsure if he'd been there consistently since then.

An unnamed Georgia woman apparently tipped off Arizona police about DMX's whereabouts after she heard about the $5,000 reward, according to TMZ.com.

DMX is in custody in Miami-Dade County jail and is scheduled to face a judge in the city on Wednesday. Cohen doesn't expect that the presiding judge will grant DMX a bond and that the troubled hip-hopper will be extradited to Arizona within 15 days.

DMX's bond was raised from $25,000 to $120,000 U.S. when he was a no-show in the Phoenix courtroom for a status hearing regarding his forthcoming trial related to charges of animal cruelty, drug possession and identity theft.

We've lost track of how many times DMX has been arrested and missed court dates, but he was nowhere near an Arizona courtroom in September because he was hospitalized in Florida after reporting symptoms associated with having a stroke. He appeared for a short hearing after recovering.