Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Isaiah Buggs has been charged with animal cruelty in the city of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, putting another shocking twist on the offseason for the reigning Super Bowl champions.
Buggs is accused of leaving two dogs on the porch of his Alabama home, in the same city as the University of Alabama where he played college football.
According to documents obtained by the Tuscaloosa PatchBuggs is expected to face criminal charges after civil documents are filed Wednesday.
Documents say when Tuscaloosa police and animal control arrived at the home at 5153 Diamond Circle, they found a Pitbull on the back porch surrounded by feces and without access to food or water.
Additionally, first responders found a black Rottweiler mix locked in a metal cage in direct sunlight – also without access to food or water.
Kansas City Chiefs DE Isaiah Buggs has been charged with animal cruelty in Alabama
Buggs (R) is facing criminal charges for neglecting a Pitbull and a Rottweiler
The civil petition states that the dogs were seized by the city because they were “severely malnourished, emaciated and neglected.”
According to the petition, the home appeared abandoned at the time of the initial call. Neighbors say the dogs have been on the porch for at least 10 days.
Investigators discovered that the house was rented to Buggs and that his lease was terminated in April because he owed more than $3,000 in back rent. Witnesses say Buggs left the home on or around March 19.
The Tuscaloosa County Animal Shelter euthanized the Pitbull after it became increasingly aggressive and heartworm treatment failed.
As for the Rottweiler mix, he tested positive for parvovirus and weighed a dangerously low 52 pounds when he arrived at the shelter. The dog is still alive and in the care of the animal shelter pending a court ruling on whether Buggs can own him or other animals.
Authorities have been unable to contact Buggs and two arrest warrants have been issued for second-degree cruelty to dogs or cats.
Buggs was a key contributor to Alabama’s 2018 national championship team and was signed to the Chiefs’ practice squad on January 5 of this year after being cut by Detroit three days earlier.
Buggs is still listed on the Chiefs roster on the team’s official website as of this article’s publication.
The Kansas City Chiefs did not respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com.
Kansas City Chiefs players Wanya Morris (left) and Chukwuebuka Godrick were arrested
In March, Rashee Rice was charged with eight felonies stemming from a car accident
It’s yet another twist in a long offseason for the defending Super Bowl champions after several members of the team were arrested or embroiled in controversy.
Rookie wide receiver Rashee Rice allegedly punched a photographer outside a Dallas nightclub. While Dallas police were still investigating the incident, the alleged victim signed a non-prosecution affidavit – meaning Rice will not face charges.
But Rice also faces both criminal and civil issues over a road racing incident in Dallas that led to a crash involving half a dozen vehicles in March.
The Super Bowl winner faces one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision with serious bodily injury and six counts of collision with injury related to the wreck.
In addition, two Chiefs players – Wanya Morris and Chukwuebuka Godrick – were arrested in Kansas on misdemeanor marijuana possession charges.
Both players were arrested and released after posting bail. They face a $2,500 fine and possibly a year in prison.
Harrison Butker gave a controversial speech at a university in Kansas last week
Additionally, controversy surrounded Chiefs star Harrison Butker over a speech he gave at Benedictine College in Kansas.
Butker congratulated the women who received degrees Benedictine College and said most of them were probably more excited about getting married and having children.
He also said some Catholic leaders are “pushing dangerous gender ideologies into America’s youth.”
Butker, whose own mother is an accomplished physicist, also criticized Pride month and President Joe Biden’s stance on abortion.
The controversial speech has sparked strong reactions, and a day after his speech, a petition was created to remove the Chiefs kicker from the team’s roster ahead of the 2024 NFL season. It has now received more than 228,000 signatures.