TUSCALOOSA, AL – Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs finds himself embroiled in legal troubles once again. Buggs, who was already facing animal cruelty charges, was arrested and booked into Tuscaloosa County Jail on Sunday on charges of domestic violence and burglary, according to jail records.
The records indicate that Buggs’ bail was set at $5,000, though it remains unclear if he has since been released. The 27-year-old athlete had previously turned himself in late last month in connection to the animal cruelty charges, which stemmed from allegations that two dogs were found severely malnourished and neglected at a rental property he had occupied.
In an incident following his initial arrest, Buggs rebuffed a reporter’s attempt to seek comment, placing his hand on the camera and telling the journalist not to approach him. He then left the scene in a vehicle driven by his bail bondsman.
Buggs’ legal representative has asserted that these charges are part of a concerted effort to shut down a hookah lounge owned by Buggs in Tuscaloosa. The defensive lineman is accused of abandoning a pit bull and a rottweiler without adequate food or water. The pit bull was reportedly free to roam a screened-in porch, while the rottweiler was confined to a metal cage in direct sunlight.
Documents reveal that local authorities were tipped off on March 28 about the dogs’ condition, with witnesses claiming Buggs had vacated the property on March 19 due to unpaid rent exceeding $3,100. The pit bull was later euthanized, while the rottweiler remains in the care of a local animal shelter.
This arrest adds to a tumultuous offseason for the Chiefs, who have faced multiple legal issues among their players. Buggs, originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019, joined the Chiefs’ practice squad before their recent Super Bowl victory and signed a reserve/future contract with the team in February.