Cockfighting - 108 birds seized Fort Pierce, FL (US) Incident Date: Sunday, Apr 8, 2007 County: Saint Lucie Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Case Images: 3 files available Alleged: » Martin Cholico Bonilla » Juan Alcanta » Palfilo Castro » Gustavo Gonzalez » Maria Malaco » Luis Ramirez » Miguel Santana » Manuel Guillen » Evan Garcia » Alefredro Gutierrez » Jorge Munos » Maria Soto » George Garcia

Case ID: 11207 Classification: Fighting Animal: chicken View more cases in FL (US) Login to Watch this Case

A St. Lucie County sheriff's deputy and an animal control officer who took the Easter Sunday dispatch to a cockfighting incident near St. Lucie County International Airport had more than a few birds to contend with.

The deputy faced 30 suspects, and the animal control officer faced more than 100 fighting chickens. Both called immediately for backup.

Six of the 108 birds taken to the Humane Society of St. Lucie County had to be euthanized. Once a judge signs the roosters over to the county, the rest also will be killed, officials say.

Sheriff Ken Mascara said the bust was the largest of its kind in county history. Those arrested allegedly set up shop in a sandy lot cluttered with junked mobile homes and a school bus on Center Road. Investigators found a canopied arena with a stage, a betting board and a taco stand serving food, soda and beer, Mascara said.

A man who lives nearby called 911 after people kept knocking on his door, asking where the cockfight was.

The first deputy on the scene found the gate to the lot open. Workers there Monday would not comment on the arrests but said they had been called to repair the gate.

Inside, the deputy found 30 people crowded under the canopy and alongside bird cages and the Tacos Jalisco stand usually set up at U.S. 1 and Savannah Road.

The taco stand operator was arrested � along with other local residents, out-of-town Floridians and five juveniles � on animal fighting charges. Local adults arrested were: 44-year-old Martin Cholico Bonilla, 41-year-old Juan Alcanta, 35-year-old Palfilo Castro, 49-year-old Gustavo Gonzalez, 55-year-old Maria Malaco, 25-year-old Luis Ramirez and 23-year-old Miguel Santana, all of Fort Pierce; 45-year-old Manuel Guillen of Port St. Lucie; 30-year-old Evan Garcia and 28-year-old Alefredro Gutierrez, both of Jensen Beach; 33-year-old Jorge Munos of Stuart; 49-year-old Maria Soto of West Palm Beach; and 34-year-old George Garcia of Lantana.

About 40 more people, including those holding the money, escaped into the woods, Mascara said. Investigators considered towing their cars but realized it would take too much time.

Vince Cloe, owner of Invincibles Paintball Park off Center Road, said he and paint ball referees watched a group of people who were not wearing required safety masks run onto the field Sunday afternoon.

"They were running from the police, but we didn't know that at the time," Cloe remembered. "You know kids: If it runs, shoot it."

Back at the cockfighting scene, Bonilla, a Fort Pierce man who leases the property, told the responding deputy that the group had gathered to show off their roosters, arrest reports state. Mascara said prosecutors plan to seek additional charges against Bonilla as a suspected organizer.

Investigators found packs of talon blades and a hole in the ground where more than a dozen dead roosters had been dumped.

Six of the 108 birds taken to the Humane Society of St. Lucie County had been sliced so badly in fights that workers had to euthanize them.

Once a judge signs the roosters over to the county, the rest also will be killed, officials said.

Shelter manager David Robertson explained, "The others seemed in relatively good condition, but they obviously showed signs of aggression."

The birds, some with bright, showy plumage, lined the back wall in cages outside the Humane Society Monday. Each one's natural dewclaw had been cut, cauterized and fitted with a strap that could hold a spike or a razor blade.

Shelter director Frank Andrews said owners train the birds to rear up and slash at one another. By the end of a fight, one will have bled to death.

Andrews said the roosters, between 1 and 2 years old, probably were worth about $50,000.

"Some guy with a cockfighting ball cap came in this morning and wanted to adopt them. I guess he was one of the previous owners," Andrews said. "He got out of here before I could get his license plate."

Neighborhood Map

For more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.

Back to Top

Add this case to:

Del.icio.us

|

Digg

|

Furl

|

References

	Palm Beach Post
	TCPalm - April 10, 2007

« FL State Animal Cruelty Map

Not sure what these icons mean? Click here.

Note: Classifications and other fields should not be used to determine what specific charges the suspect is facing or was convicted of - they are for research and statistical purposes only. The case report and subsequent updates outline the specific charges. Charges referenced in the original case report may be modified throughout the course of the investigation or trial, so case updates, when available, should always be considered the most accurate reflection of charges.

For more information regarding classifications and usage of this database, please visit the database notes and disclaimer.