Two pictures of drug suspect emerge at Philadelphia hearing

Is he a drug kingpin, as federal authorities allege?

Or is he, as his defense lawyer contends, a "laid-back" guy from the streets who once operated a popular - albeit illegal - petting zoo for the children of his Kensington neighborhood?

Those two pictures of suspected drug dealer Alex "Reds" Rivera emerged Friday as the 28-year-old made his first appearance in federal court after his arrest Tuesday on cocaine-dealing charges.

Rivera, as it turns out, will spend at least seven more days in jail after Judge Jacob P. Hart granted a request for a one-week delay by defense attorney Peter Bowers, who wanted more time to study the charges in the case before arguing issues at a detention hearing.

Prosecutors have opposed bail for Rivera, whom they describe as the "violent leader of a large-scale drug-trafficking organization" that for several years has controlled the narcotics trade along North Lawrence Street and West Indiana Avenue in Kensington.

Citing his lengthy arrest record and "past penchant for violence," Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Cullen and David Axelrod filed a motion seeking to keep Rivera behind bars pending trial.

But Bowers, who has represented Rivera in a series of Commons Pleas Court cases, said his client was "not a tough guy" and was well thought-of on the streets of North Philadelphia.

At one point, he said, Rivera kept horses, cows, chickens, roosters, and one very large bull in a stable that served as a petting zoo for the children of his neighborhood. That, Bowers acknowledged, led to problems with the SPCA, one of several brushes his client has had with authorities.

Prosecutors said the stable, one of several locations raided last week, was one of the sites where Rivera stored drugs.

The conflicting pictures of a prime suspect in an ongoing FBI investigation are expected to continue as more details about his life and the narcotics probe surface.

Short and stocky, with reddish-brown hair, a full beard, and forearms covered in tattoos, Rivera said little Friday as he appeared in handcuffs and dressed in a green prison jumpsuit for his brief court appearance.

A new detention hearing has been set for Friday.

Rivera is charged with selling 125 grams of crack cocaine to an undercover operative working for the FBI.

The arrest capped an investigation that included wiretaps and information provided by confidential sources, at least one of whom arranged and made a crack purchase in June as the FBI watched and listened.

An affidavit filed by the FBI agent heading the investigation said Rivera had been described by drug-underworld sources as a "substantial narcotics dealer" who since at least 2006 has " 'owned' or controlled" the drug territory on the two streets.

The affidavit from Agent James P. Crowley detailed how the FBI used a source to purchase crack cocaine from Rivera and a top associate, Daniel Cortez, on June 4.

The drug buy, which allegedly occurred at Rivera's house in the 3400 block of F Street, was arranged through a series of phone calls recorded by the FBI. The source then wore a body wire while making the purchase for $4,000.

Arrest warrants were issued for Rivera and Cortez on Tuesday, but Cortez could not be located. He is now a fugitive.

During a series of raids that targeted properties authorities said were controlled by Rivera or his associates, the FBI seized small quantities of cocaine, crack, heroin, marijuana, and PCP; an SKS assault rifle, four handguns, and numerous rounds of ammunition; $20,000 in cash; and a 2007 Mercedes-Benz, a 2006 Buick Luzerne, and a 2004 Honda 1800 motorcycle.

At the stable where investigators said Rivera had stored drugs, authorities found four horses and numerous roosters that "appear to have been kept and trained for cock fighting," according to a memo filed by prosecutors.

The memo noted that Rivera has been arrested nine times and has three convictions dating back to February 2000. All the cases were in Common Pleas Court, where he pleaded guilty to drug-dealing and weapons offenses.

Other charges, which were either dismissed or withdrawn, included murder, aggravated assault, robbery, and cruelty to animals.

In urging that Rivera not be released on bail, prosecutors said that he "appears to rely entirely on drug dealing for his livelihood" and "does not appear to have any legitimate means of supporting himself."