Cockfighting - over 100 birds, 40 found dead Beaumont, CA (US) Incident Date: Saturday, Jan 27, 2007 County: Riverside Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Abuser names unreleased

Case ID: 10658 Classification: Fighting Animal: chicken View more cases in CA (US) Login to Watch this Case

Riverside County Sheriff's deputies are gathering evidence, preparing charges against the people they say ran an illegal cockfighting ring in Beaumont. Deputies discovered the ring Jan 27 afternoon behind a home on California Avenue. An anonymous phone tip led them to the area.

Folks living along a peaceful stretch of California Avenue in Beaumont are used to animal sounds. After all, this is farmland.

That's why Braulio Perez says the sound of roosters crowing might not immediately catch anyone's attention.

"The neighbors there, you know, they had like horses and you know, cats and all sorts of animals. So you know, I'm not going to say nothing."

Jan 27 afternoon, someone finally did say something. A large gathering of people and roosters crowing loudly led a tipster to call the sheriff.

"When deputies arrived, they saw over 200 people running away from them," said Deputy Juan Zamora with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

The crowd ran toward nearby hills

"No one was arrested at that point, however, we have identified the homeowner they're investigating into possibly filing charges of felony animal cruelty," said Deputy Zamora.

Around forty out of the more than one hundred roosters deputies found were dead from fighting. Animal control later euthanized six more roosters that were badly injured.

"This is somehow an organized group of people that were doing this. We do not know the extent of their abilities or how well they were organized at this point, but it's something we're still investigating."

Deputy Zamora says the people responsible could be charged with felony animal cruelty and face prison time. He credits the anonymous tipster for helping break up the ring.

"Without that person's help, we never would have found those people."

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department is asking anyone with tips on this crime to call 951 922 7100.

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KESQ - Jan 31, 2007

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