Isaiah Buggs surrenders to Tuscaloosa Police, posts bail after misdemeanor warrants for animal cruelty

Former Alabama defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs surrendered himself to Tuscaloosa Police on Thursday, according to ESPN, following the issuing of two misdemeanor warrants for animal cruelty this week. The sixth-year pro had two misdemeanor warrants filed against him on Wednesday for cruelty to dogs in the second degree.

After entering into Tuscaloosa PD custody, Buggs posted bail of $600 and received a court hearing date for June 13. Though there were reporters outside as the Chiefs lineman left the jail, he did not respond to questions.

Buggs’ agent, Trey Robinson, released a statement shortly after that saying the accusations are a tactic from Tuscaloosa Police to get Buggs to close a hookah shop he owns in the city.

“Isaiah vehemently denies the truthfulness of the allegations and charges asserted against him today,” the statement reads. “Under no circumstances does Mr. Buggs 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.

“Furthermore, we believe the City of Tuscaloosa’s decision to file charges charges today is part of a concerted effort ….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.”

According to court documents, the Tuscaloosa Police Department received a report of two dogs being left on the back porch of a home that Buggs rented. Officers and animal control arrived to discover a grey and white pit bull and a black rottweiler on a screened-in porch without access to food or water.

Both dogs appeared to be malnourished and neglected. Witnesses in the area told police that Buggs had recently moved from the house. Unfortunately, the pit bull had to be euthanized.

Buggs denies claims of animal cruelty at Tuscaloosa property

Buggs claims to have not been aware that the dogs were at the residence. The statement from his agent also goes on to assert that this is not the first time the lineman has had a run-in with the law in recent months. His rep claims that the city offered not to make the charges public if he turned over his business license.

“These efforts are not new as Mr. Buggs was arrested at his business on misdemeanor charges on two separate occasions in the past two months, but each time no public record was made of these arrests,” Robinson wrote. “Rather, the City used the threat of pursuing and publicizing both the allegations filed today and these arrests as leverage against Mr. Buggs by offering to drop and not pursue them in exchange for his business license.

“Mr. Buggs declined the City’s offers as he has serious concerns about the City’s and Police Department’s motivation for deciding to target his business, which he plans to bring to light as part of his defense of the allegations and charges filed against him and his reputation and business.”

Buggs played for the Detroit Lions in 2023 to record 12 tackles (two for loss), one sack and a fumble recovery across 10 games. He was waived by the team in January and later signed on with the Chiefs as a member of their practice squad. He signed a futures contract with Kansas City for 2024.

On3’s Chandler Vessels contributed to this report.