After Another Arrest, Isaiah Buggs to Close Tuscaloosa Hookah Lounge

After he was arrested again this weekend, former Alabama standout Isaiah Buggs will surrender the business license and permanently close his hookah lounge in Tuscaloosa.

As the Thread has previously reported, Buggs has been embroiled in a long battle with the city and its police department over a laundry list of allegations against him and his establishment on Greensboro Avenue.

Police accuse Buggs of animal cruelty, of shoving TPD chief Brent Blankley, pointing a gun at a woman and much more, including a fresh arrest this weekend for domestic violence burglary.

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Buggs bonded out of the Tuscaloosa County Jail after a mandatory hold for domestic violence charges and shortly after published an update to the Facebook page for Kings Hookah Lounge announcing that they will permanently close and surrender their business license, which would likely have been recovered at a hearing next week.

Since his first arrest, Buggs has denied the allegations against him and held that the city and its police department are targeting him in an attempt to force the closure of his hookah lounge.

Buggs started his football career at Mississippi Coast Community College. He was the No. 1 player in junior college in the 2017 recruiting class and committed to Alabama. While at Alabama, Buggs started 28 games over two seasons. During 2017, he totaled 51 tackles, four tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks en route to helping Alabama win the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship over the Georgia Bulldogs. During his senior year, Buggs totaled 51 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, three passes batted down, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery en route to a national championship appearance against the Clemson Tigers. He was named All-SEC by the Associated Press and the SEC coaches.

Buggs was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL draft. Buggs spent three seasons in Pittsburgh, totaling 31 tackles and two tackles for loss.

In 2022, Buggs signed with the Detroit Lions, starting 13 games for Detroit. He totaled 46 tackles and 10 quarterback hits.

Buggs spent the start of 2023 with Detroit before being cut by the Lions, then he was picked up and spent the rest of the season on the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad.

This is a developing story, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread for more as it becomes available.