After a seven-month investigation, Maricopa County Sheriff’s deputies arrested rapper DMX at his Cave Creek home early Friday morning on suspicion of misdemeanor animal cruelty and felony drug possession.

The arrest stems from a raid that deputies made on the rapper’s home in August, which led to the seizure of 12 allegedly malnourished dogs and the discovery of three more dogs buried in the backyard.

The popular rapper tried to barricade himself in his bedroom while the search warrant was being served, but he eventually emerged, authorities said. He was booked into Fourth Avenue Jail on a $7,500 bond.

He is scheduled to appear in court on May 15.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio said the arrest was delayed because it took months for labs to conduct tests on the animals to confirm they weren’t being properly cared for.

Lawyers for DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons, claimed the rapper was not at home during the August raid and wasn’t aware of the dogs’ condition.

His lawyers also said that a neighbor was caring for the dogs. But the caretaker said at the time that he did not receive enough money to buy dog food, and could not afford to continue feeding them.

“This was a tough case,â€� Arpaio said. “We were not in a rush; we put a lot of time on it but you don’t rush into an investigation.â€�

Deputies on Friday also confiscated marijuana that appeared to be packaged for sale, drug paraphernalia and weapons, according to a court document.

Meanwhile, Arpaio said deputies served a search warrant Friday at the Mayo Clinic, 56th Street and Mayo Boulevard in Phoenix, in connection with a potential fraud scheme involving the rapper.

Arpaio said deputies asked for records related to the alleged fraud.

But Lynn Closway, a Mayo Clinic spokeswoman, said the hospital “has no knowledge of anyone being served today, and if Mayo did know and it involved a patient or employee, it would be unable to comment.�

Arpaio said deputies on Friday took from the musician’s house five pit bull puppies that will be cared for by inmates. Arpaio added that he was surprised that Simmons still had dogs at his home.

“He had to know that we were still investigating him,� Arpaio said.

In a 1999 case in Teaneck, N.J., Simmons was convicted of animal cruelty involving 13 pit bull puppies that were kept in small cages even as they outgrew the tight space. As part of a plea deal, Simmons made a public-service announcement condemning animal cruelty.

The rapper has had several run-ins with the law in the last few days. Earlier this week, he was arrested and booked on criminal speeding charges. Authorities say photo enforcement cameras in late January recorded his speed at 114 mph on the Loop 101 and Cactus Road in Scottsdale.

Arpaio said Simmons had also recently been cited by deputies in Cave Creek for reckless driving and carrying a weapon in a public park. Charges are pending.

Simmons’ adobe-style house, where the search was conducted, is on a barren lot along a rutted, washed-out, dead-end dirt road.

A few cars sat outside the home Friday, and three men milled about, two riding an all-terrain vehicle.

A neighbor, who wouldn’t identify himself, described Simmons as friendly enough. He waves as he goes by on his quad, the neighbor said. However, sometimes Simmons speeds across property and the neighbor said he has asked him to slow down. Simmons complied.

“I was surprised to hear about the dogs, you can hear everything at night out here,� he said.

Reporters Kate Nolan and J.J. Hensley contributed to this report.