04/26/2007

Associated Press

Police conducting a drug investigation raided a Surry County house owned by Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick and found dozens of dogs, some injured and emaciated, as well as items associated with dog fighting, authorities said.

State Police Sgt. D.S. Carr said Vick's relative, Davon Boddie, 26, lives in the house. Vick owns the property, but does not live there and was not present when a search warrant was executed in a drug investigation Wednesday night, Carr said.

Boddie was arrested outside a nightclub by Hampton police April 20 on charges of distribution of marijuana and possession with intent to distribute. The search warrant was executed by a multijurisidictional task force in a narcotics probe, Carr said.

"When they had a chance to go to the site, they discovered animal neglect," Surry County Administrator Tyrone Franklin told WAVY-TV in Portsmouth.

More than 60 dogs were found in three buildings. Some appeared malnourished, scarred and injured, officials said.

The Surry County Sheriff's Office is handling the investigation of the dogs' treatment. The office said the deputy in charge of the investigation was at the scene and unavailable for comment Thursday.

Dog fighting is illegal nationwide and is a felony in 48 states, including Virginia, according to the Humane Society of the United States.

Vick and two other former Virginia Tech stars — Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall and former Buffalo Bills defensive end Bruce Smith — are scheduled to join Hokies football coach Frank Beamer and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in a pre-NFL draft ceremony in New York on Saturday to honor the victims of the recent shooting tragedy at the Blacksburg school.

Falcons spokesman Reggie Roberts said the team still was gathering information on the report and had no immediate comment.