Posted July 21, 2008

"He's back in jail again."

This was the clearly exasperated statement made by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. The chronic jail visitor that the self-proclaimed "America's Toughest Sheriff" speaks of is none other then rapper DMX, who has been arrested for the fifth time in a matter of a few months.

Born Earl Simmons, DMX was detained by police in Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday on suspicion of giving a false name and social security number to a hospital in order to avoid paying for his medical expenses.

According to reports Simmons is accused of visiting the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ, in April and giving medical officials the fake name of Troy Jones. He then allegedly failed to pay a $7,500 bill.

"I don't know why judges keep letting this guy out," Sheriff Arpaio complains. "Every time he goes in there, he gets out on bond. I'm hoping this is the one time he's going to pay the penalty for his offense."

The latest arrest is just one of many legal woes the 37-year-old rapper has faced so far this year. In January, he was arrested for allegedly speeding down a Phoenix, AZ freeway. In May, he was charged with suspected drug possession and animal cruelty following raids on his Arizona home.

A month later in June DMX was arrested for allegedly attempting to buy drugs from an undercover officer, and earlier this month he was taken into police custody for violating his bail terms relating to a previous incident in June of driving without a valid license.

Arpaio said the bond had not been set in the recent arrest, the Associated Press reports.

If DMX remains jailed, the sheriff said he would be isolated from the rest of the inmates for his own safety. "They may not like his music," the Sheriff said.