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ESSENTIAL DESTINATIONS

MONTH: October 2007

Other prominent pit bull cases

 

"Two months after a tipster reported seeing emaciated dogs and dry water bowls" at the home of rap star DMX in Cave Creek, Arizona, "there have been no arrests," reported Carol Sowers of the Arizona Republic on October 6, 2007. American SPCA forensic veterinarian Melinda Merck reported after performing necropsies on August 18 that she was unable to determine the causes of death of three pit bull terriers who were found buried on the premises. Guns, marijuana, and cocaine were also found on the property.

"Brad Blackwell, who had been hired to care for the pit bulls, told deputies that the buried dogs were likely in the house in cages and died after the air conditioning broke down," Sowers wrote. A different vet told the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office that the dogs were suffering from valley fever, an infectious lung disease. Blackwell told the sheriff's office that he had told DMX, whose actual name is Earl Simmons, that he could look after the dogs "just for a couple of days" before going on vacation.

"We are still interviewing possible witnesses," Sheriff Joe Arpaio told Sowers.

The Massachusetts Appeals Court ruled in mid-October 2007 that "police can't use a general fear of pit bulls to enter a suspect's home without knocking," Associated Press reported. Luis Santiago, of Springfield, Massachusetts, charged with drug offenses and receiving stolen property, held that police improperly used a "no-knock" to search his house. "Prosecutors appealed a lower court ruling suppressing evidence seized from Santiago's home based on the improper search warrant. The Appeals Court upheld the suppression order," Associated Press said. "The court says police have to show a particular pit bull is violent, instead of claiming all pit bulls are aggressive."