AR-News: (CA) Eight Cockfighters Arrested

[Political Animal]

 Mountain Democrat
 
May 19, 2004 - Cockfighting arrests made
By COLLEEN FLANNERY Staff writer

 
DEPUTIES LOAD SUSPECTS into a Sheriff's Department van
for transport to the El Dorado County Jail. Eight
suspects were booked on suspicion of attending
Sunday's cockfight, and face felony and misdemeanor
charges. Another man was booked on suspicion of owning
the fighting cocks. See story, " Cockfighting arrests
made." Democrat photo by Colleen Flannery  
 
 
 
CAMINO - With a cooler full of beer and a pile of dead
roosters stacked in the sun nearby, a group of Camino
men apparently settled in Sunday afternoon to watch an
illegal cockfight.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Department deputies
surprised the group of Latino men, apparently engaged
in watching and betting on an illicit fight between
the birds. Since state law permits an unwarranted
search of anyone attending a cockfight - and the
arrest of any and all spectators - the deputies
arrested about eight men suspected of attending the
fight and seized the involved fowl as evidence.

The deputies, acting on a tip, said they arrived to
find two roosters fighting in a round wooden pit,
known by insiders as a "cockpit." Six more waited
their turn to fight in nearby cages.

"It's illegal for them to be here, period," said
deputy Jason Alger, still flushed from capturing and
arresting the suspects.

All face felony and misdemeanor charges related to
their attendance at the rooster roust. The apparent
owner of the property and birds, Santiago Rodriguez,
71, of Camino, was arrested on suspicion of owning
animals for fighting. Rodriguez apparently charged $20
per attendee for a ringside view of the rooster
ruckus.

He told deputies this was the first fight he had held,
reports indicate.

The roosters had apparently been modified for
fighting, Animal Control Lt. John Vail said. Owners of
fighting birds cut or otherwise remove the natural
fleshy "spur" at the back of a rooster's leg. They
then wrap the rooster's leg with tape (or blue string,
in this case) and attach a leather mounting block to
the leg. Tiny 1- to 3-inch long knives in the leather
block replace the rooster's natural spurs, allowing it
to slash at its opponent.

"They literally fight one another to death," Vail
said.

The roosters' owners simply cut the knives off dead
roosters for reuse in another cockfight, Vail
indicated.

A wooden ring made from scrap plywood surrounded the
area near cages filled with roosters. About knee-high
to a man, the ring featured two holes as its only
openings. Men apparently tossed roosters through the
holes into the ring to do battle, Vail said.

Blood spattered against the ring and 11 dead roosters
tossed behind the battle told the story of battles won
and lost. Slashed from head to toe by the razorlike
knives, the dead roosters silently testified to the
cruelty of the so-called "sport."

"They (the roosters) are stabbed repeatedly until they
die of large lacerations," said Vail. "Cockfighting is
a horrible, inhumane and cruel practice."

At the raid, deputies also found drugs commonly used
by cockfighters used to "enhance" the natural
aggressiveness and performance of their birds. Such
chicken steroids are illegal in California, Vail said.

About 3 million fighting birds, called gamecocks, are
bred in America, according to Humane Society of the
United States estimates. In the 17 years Vail has
served with county Animal Control, this is the first
in-progress cockfight that El Dorado County has broken
up, he said, although he said there have been two
prosecutions and convictions for possession of
fighting cocks and fighting paraphernalia.

Last year Animal Control assisted with two search
warrants in Napa County that involved the seizure of
more than 4,000 roosters, Vail said.

On Sunday, Animal Control captured and crated birds
injured but not killed in the bantam battle to take to
the veterinarian. Of the 14 birds removed to
veterinary care, only six could be saved due to the
severity of their injuries, Vail said. Animal Control
impounded 17 other roosters involved in the operation.

Other birds apparently owned by Rodriguez will stay in
their cages under the law's assumption that the owner
can continue to care for them best, Vail said. About
40 birds remained impounded as evidence at the Camino
home.

If any birds "disappear" during the time they are held
for evidence, that may become an additional charge in
court, Vail said.

When deputies came upon the apparent cockfight, their
arrival sent "about 20" spectators scattering, Alger
said. California Highway Patrol officers waiting at
the rear entrance to the wooded Hassler Drive property
said they chased scurrying spectators through
blackberry bush-choked terrain to catch three more,
adding to the count.

A sheriff's dog, "Cyrus" - deputy Jim Applegate's
newly certified K-9 companion - apparently alerted on
the presence of drugs at the scene, but officers said
they believed any illegal drugs that may have been at
the Hassler Drive house had been moved.

Suspects collared by the Sheriff's Department and the
CHP waited in the shade Sunday as the Sheriff's
Department called a large-capacity van to transport
them for booking. CHP traffic officer Steve Ussher
used his skills in Spanish to bridge the language
barrier between suspects and law enforcement.

Arrested on suspicion of attending a cockfight and of
felony "criminal conspiracy" were Francisco H.
Ferreira, 39, an apparent transient; Alberto G. Gomez,
60, of Sacramento; Maurilio Gonzalez, 27, of Auburn;
Emmanuel Guzman, 20, of Pollock Pines; Alejandro
Hernandez, 30, of Cameron Park; Hector Hurtado, 35, of
Lincoln; Rondle E. Marquez, 61, of West Point; and
Antonio J. Rodriguez, 19, of Placerville.

After hearing their Miranda rights, the suspects told
deputies they knew that cockfighting was illegal,
according to reports. Although cockfighting is
practiced in countries all over the world, and is
legal in Mexico, no particular cultural or ethnic
profile of people who engage in this activity can be
made, Vail said.

All made bail Sunday afternoon, and other attendees
remain at large, officers said. A law that went into
effect Jan. 1 increased penalties for a first offense
of illegal cockfighting to a fine of up to $5,000.
Penalties for a second offense rise to a fine of up to
$25,000. Cockfighting remains legal in Louisiana and
parts of New Mexico.

Anyone with information about local cockfighting
activities should contact Animal Control at 621-5795
or law enforcement. 
 



	
		
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Domains – Claim yours for only $14.70/year
http://smallbusiness.promotions.yahoo.com/offer