Rapper DMX was arrested yet again on suspicion of animal abuse and drug possession, three days after being taken into custody for a traffic violation.

The 37-year-old New York native, whose real name is Earl Simmons, was arrested on Friday after a SWAT team with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office raided his home, indicting him on felony drug possession and misdemeanor animal cruelty charges.

According to sheriff's spokesman Capt. Paul Chagolla, the rapper attempted to lock himself in his bedroom, before the SWAT team entered his north Phoenix residence during the 3 a.m. raid. He was taken to a nearby jail where he was booked and processed.

Detectives found and seized even more weapons and drugs, which ultimately led to the filing of an additional drug possession charge.

"We are handling this case as we would any other incident of alleged animal cruelty," County Attorney Andrew Thomas was quoted by FOXNews.com as saying.

Police removed five pit bull puppies from the rapper's home and took them to a nearby prison, where they will be cared for by female inmates.

"A guy like this DMX character with all his money and fame has no excuse for not providing proper care for his animals," said Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio regarding the seven-month-old investigation into reports that the rapper wasn't properly taking care of his dogs. "He has a long criminal history and obviously has no respect for the law."

Simmons' New York lawyer, Murray Richman, said he warned his client about such a raid after his efforts to make DMX available to law enforcement were rebuffed.

"I anticipated it, I explained to my client what was going to happen," Richman said. "I think that the animal cruelty is not going to be able to be established and I think that this is Sheriff Joe's moment."

Last year in August, deputies raided DMX's home and seized 12 pit bulls and pit bull mixes after receiving a report that the animals were being abused. No arrests were made at the time; authorities said that some of the dogs had apparently not been fed or watered but that there was no evidence of dog fighting. DMX released a statement through his lawyer claiming he had no idea his dogs were being maltreated, blaming a caretaker.

The carcasses of three dogs were found partially buried on the property in August, and one of the dogs may have been burned, the sheriff's office said.