Twenty-one men were arrested near a farm in rural Tift County after authorities raided a cock-fighting arena. The operation was headed by the Midsouth Narcotics Task Force — a new law enforcement organization composed of sheriff’s deputies from Tift, Turner and Crisp counties. Although the group was formed to fight the illegal drug trade it was roosters, not drugs, that the group confiscated.

Tift County Animal Control swept in to recover dozens of the birds — raised to fight for amusement and gambling purposes.  “We seized 41, found nine dead and two were so badly injured we had to euthanize them,” Animal Control Director Regenia Wells said.

The 21 men were only a portion of the crowd that allegedly gathered to watch the clucking gladiators duel to the death. The crowd was estimated to be over 100 strong, but many escaped capture by law enforcement officers.

“When they arrived on the scene there were a large number of people that began to run,” said David Haire, public information officer for the Tift County Sheriff’s Office.

The arena was set up in a barn behind a residence on Ellis Bryan Road, between Omega and Excelsior. The property is the home of Marcus Bryant Webb, 72, who was one of the men arrested.

“They had even built a small arena complete with fans to keep the people there comfortable,” said Haire.

All 21 men were charged with aggravated cruelty to animals — a felony charge that carries a sentence of one to five years in prison. According to Georgia law, “a person commits the offense of aggravated cruelty to animals when he or she knowingly and maliciously causes death or physical harm to an animal by rendering a part of such animal’s body useless or by seriously disfiguring such animal.”

The other 20 men arrested were Inosencio Alvarado, 39, Antonio Mendez, 28, Juan Ortiz Salinas, 27, and Benjamin Vasquez, 44, all of Omega; Joel Hernandez, 27, and Percialiano Calvill, 19, both of Valdosta; Mario Chavez, 29, Eulogio Prudente Torres, 29, and Javier Torres, 26, all of Madison, Fla.; Hugo Enrique, 25, Luis Hernandez, 49, Enrique Ortega, 18, Jose Eduardo Padilla, 22, Nazaro Padilla, 48, Rengio Hernandez Padilla, 21, and Roberta Martinez Padilla, 42, all of Norman Park; and Florencio Hernandez, 23, Jose Robles Hernandez, 21, Marcos Robles, 24, and Delfino Rodriguez, 51, all of Moultrie.

Mendez was also charged with driving without a license. All of the men are being housed at the jail at the Tift County Law Enforcement Center.

Along with the roosters, $3,400 in cash and a handgun were recovered by the task force. They also found cock spurs — weapons attached to the roosters’ legs to turn them into deadly weapons. In addition, they confiscated scales used to weigh the birds.  “Apparently, they fought them by weight classes,” Haire said.

Several pens used to hold the roosters were also recovered. The birds will be housed at the Tift County Animal Shelter until their ultimate destiny will be determined. The fate of the roosters will be decided by a Superior Court judge.

Update 4/20/06:  Two national animal rights organizations, In Defense of Animals and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, have responded to the chicken-fighting arrests. IDA, a California-based group, contacted District Attorney Paul Bowden and issued a press release on the case. PETA sent a letter to the editor of The Tifton Gazette.

IDA asked Bowden to “vigorously prosecute” the 21 men. The press release said that the men should “pay the highest price” if convicted of their crimes. The maximum sentence for aggravated animal cruelty is five years in prison and a fine of $15,000.

“Cockfighting is egregiously cruel and anyone caught participating in these violent, bloody events should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Elliot M. Katz, founder and president of IDA.

Bowden said he prosecutes all types of cases including murders, rapes, robberies and burglaries, and that he would handle the animal cruelty cases like any other.  “I prosecute every case that is appropriate to prosecute,” said the district attorney. “It’s a case. It will be handled that way.”

IDA’s release stated that cockfighting is illegal in all but two states and 33 states consider the offense a felony.  The release stated that gamecocks are bred to be aggressive and are injected with stimulants, testosterone and blood-clotting drugs to increase their fighting performance. It said that the roosters’ natural spurs are cut off and they are fitted with sharp steel blades or curved implements called gaffs to replace the natural spurs. Several of these spur-like weapons were seized during the raid Sunday.  The release stated that fighting roosters “suffer gruesome injuries, including broken wings and legs, punctured lungs, severed spinal cords and split eyes.”  The release also said that cockfighting is often involved with other crimes such as gambling, drugs and weapons violations.

Although no one was charged with a gambling offense, authorities seized $3,400 in the raid and one gun. No drugs were found.

Update 4/26/06:  In Defense of Animals, a California-based animal protection organization, announced that the group has rescued the 40 chickens and transported them to Eastern Shore Sanctuary and Education Center in Princess Anne, Md.

IDA transported the 40 roosters to the sanctuary where they can “just be birds,” according to the group. IDA will provide transportation and medical care for the birds.  “They contacted me, took 40 birds and left me one that’s kind of puny,” said Regenia Wells, director of Tifton-Tift County Animal Control. “They will be in a sanctuary where they have their own pen.”

The animal control officers decided to keep one of the birds as a mascot and named him Leroy.

Along with the 41 birds that were seized, nine dead roosters were found and two were euthanized due to extensive injuries. Other birds suffered injuries such as a severed tongue or missing eyes, but are being rehabilitated.   “Most birds used in these violent, bloody events aren’t fortunate enough to even live through it,” said Elliot M. Katz, DVM, founder and president of IDA. “We are pleased to be able to give these animals a second chance.”

Reference:

WALB 10 News

The Tifton Gazette