Former Tide Star Isaiah Buggs Accused Of Animal Cruelty In Tuscaloosa

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to include additional information about other pending charges in Tuscaloosa Municipal Court that we reported later in the day and Thursday morning.

TUSCALOOSA, AL — A former Alabama football standout and current defensive lineman for the Kansas City Chiefs has been accused of animal cruelty in Tuscaloosa, per civil documents filed Wednesday in Tuscaloosa County District Court and obtained by Tuscaloosa Patch.

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Isaiah Buggs, 27, also turned himself in to Tuscaloosa police Thursday morning on two misdemeanor animal cruelty charges Thursday morning after Tuscaloosa Police Department initially received information in March of two dogs being left on the back porch of a home at 5153 Diamond Circle.

His total bond was set at $600 - $300 for each charge.

As Patch reported later in the day on Wednesday, the Super Bowl LVIII champion is also facing several other pending charges in municipal court, including pushing Tuscaloosa Police Chief Brent Blankley into other officers during an arrest in April and pointing a gun at a woman outside of his business shortly thereafter.

Other police reports obtained through a public records request by Patch also say his business has been cited for overcrowding, operating without a business license and failing to pay city sales tax.

The civil petition filed Wednesday morning, though, goes on to say that when TPD 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.

What's more, those responding reported finding a black Rottweiler mix locked in a metal cage in direct sunlight with no access to food or water.

The petition said the dogs were seized on March 28 due to both being severely "malnourished, emaciated and neglected."

The residence also appeared to be abandoned at the time of the initial call, the petition said.

A neighbor also told police that the dogs had been on the back porch for at least 10 days.

Investigators found that the house, which is owned by Omega Reality Group, was being rented to Buggs, who reportedly owns Kings Hookah Lounge on Greensboro Avenue in Tuscaloosa.

Police also reported that his lease was terminated on April 15 due to owing $3,116.90 in back rent, with witnesses saying that Buggs had moved out of the house on or about March 19.

The pitbull was euthanized in April by Tuscaloosa County Metro Animal Shelter after becoming increasingly aggressive and failing heartworm treatment at the shelter.

The civil petition against Buggs says the black Rottweiler mix tested positive for Parvo and only weighed 52 pounds when it arrived at the shelter — a dangerously low weight for that kind of dog breed.

The Rottweiler is still in the care of the Tuscaloosa County Metro Animal Shelter and pending a ruling in court over whether Buggs should be allowed to own it or any other animals.

Authorities then reportedly tried to get in touch with Buggs on March 28, but were unsuccessful and the petition says as of Wednesday that two misdemeanor warrants have been obtained for second-degree cruelty to dogs or cats.

The petition asks the court to set a hearing date within the next 10 days to determine whether Buggs is fit to have custody of the surviving dog.

Buggs' agent Trey Robinson in a statement to ESPN said that his client denies the allegations and said Buggs does not condone the mistreatment of any animal.

"The dogs at issue did not belong to him and he was unaware they remained at the property in question," Robinson said. "Furthermore, 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."

Buggs, whose current address was mentioned as a residence on Joshua Street in Northport, was a primary contributor on Alabama's 2018 national championship team and was a member of the Kansas City Chiefs when they won Super Bowl LVIII earlier this year.

Buggs was signed to the Chiefs' practice squad in 2023 ahead of the Super Bowl run and signed a reserve/future contract with the team in February.

Originally from Ruston, Louisiana and drafted in the sixth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Buggs has also played for Las Vegas Raiders and the Detroit Lions.

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