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Case #11461 Rating: 3.4 out of 5
Dog-fighting - 16 dogs seized
Beach Park, IL (US)Incident Date: Thursday, May 24, 2007
County: Lake
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 3 files available
Defendant/Suspect: Anthony L. Brown
Case Updates: 3 update(s) available
The nondescript house on the 12700 block of Chaplin Street had attracted the attention of neighbors because crowds would gather on certain nights, with cars sporting "fancy rims" lining the street.
What neighbors on the block didn't know was that the house was allegedly being used as a major dog-fighting hub.
The 16 pit bulls taken from a Beach Park home that officials say was being used as a dog-fighting arena are currently in "court custody" according to Lake County Health Department officials.
Spokeswoman Leslie Piotrowski said the health department eventually expects to gain official custody of the animals, and that five puppies appear to be adoptable.
Officials have said the adult dogs had been trained for aggression and are not likely to be candidates for adoption. Piotrowski said it was too early to say whether the adults were likely be euthanized.
When Lake County Sheriff's deputies entered the residence earlier this month with a search warrant following a routine well-being check, the inside of the home spoke volumes.
A foul odor emanated from the door of the house, and things got worse inside. In the basement, police found 16 pit bulls in cages without food or water. The dogs were covered with cuts and scars, and blood was spattered on the walls. A fighting ring and spectator seats were also set up in the basement, according to Sgt. Timothy Jonites of the sheriff's office.
"It was a large-scale, professional dog-fighting operation, one of the largest I've ever heard of or seen," Jonites said.
A felony arrest warrant was issued Tuesday for Anthony L. Brown, 24, who officials said had been renting the house. Brown is wanted on charges of aggravated cruelty to animals, a Class 4 felony, dog fighting, a Class 3 felony, and unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon.
The last charge was based on the discovery by officers of a loaded handgun in the house. Brown was previously convicted on charges of aggravated battery with a weapon in Grayslake, and there is evidence that he is a gang member, Jonites said.
Brown is described as about 5 feet 11 inches tall and 140 pounds with brown hair and green eyes. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the sheriff's department at (847) 549-5200. Officials said he should be considered armed and dangerous.
Jonites said it appears that others would bring their dogs to the home to fight Brown's dogs. He said "tools of the trade" were found in the home, including veterinary medicine such as steroids and antibiotics, to make the dogs more aggressive and to treat their wounds.
He also said Brown and other participants took care to shelter the operation from the neighborhood.
"They were never unruly or loud," he said of those who would gather at the home.
"We couldn't understand why there was such a big draw at the house," said one resident who asked not to be identified Wednesday morning. "Why were people coming out to this house? They didn't seem to be partying or drinking beer or anything."
"What we thought was funny was that you got all these people with really nice vehicles and fancy rims," said one neighbor, who also asked not to be named.
"It pisses me off. It really upset me," she said, adding that Brown was occasionally seen walking one dog.
"In order to get all those dogs in, they had to have brought them in at night," she said. "We had a real good neighborhood until this happened."
Case UpdatesAccording to the Illinois State Department of Corrections records, Brown was sentenced to 3 years in jail:
Date of Birth: 07-07-1982
Weight: 138 lbs.
Hair: Brown
Sex: Male
Height: 6 ft. 00 in.
Race: Hispanic
Eyes: Green
MARKS, SCARS, & TATTOOS
TATTOO, FOREARM, LEFT - BULL DOG RIP GOLDBERG
TATTOO, ABDOMEN - BORIQUA G T-RF ARM-CROSS
TATTOO, ARM, RIGHT UPPER - MOM T-LHND-RING FINGER-VA
SCAR, SIDE, RIGHT -
TATTOO, CHEST - VERONICA ANTHONY L BROWN JR
ADMISSION / RELEASE / DISCHARGE INFO
Custody Date: 06/02/2008
Projected Parole Date: 01/06/2009
Paroled Date: --
Tentative Discharge Date:
Discharge From Parole: 01/06/2010
SENTENCING INFORMATION
MITTIMUS: 07CF1816
CLASS: 3
COUNT: 1
OFFENSE: ATTEMPT FELON POSS/USE FIREARM/PAROLE
CUSTODY DATE: 07/06/2007
SENTENCE: 4 YEARS 0 MONTHS 0 DAYS
COUNTY: LAKE
SENTENCE DISCHARGED?: NO
MITTIMUS: 07CF1816
CLASS: 4
COUNT: 2
OFFENSE: OWN/BREED/TRAIN FIGHTING DOG
CUSTODY DATE: 07/06/2007
SENTENCE: 3 YEARS 0 MONTHS 0 DAYS
COUNTY: LAKE
SENTENCE DISCHARGED?: NO
MITTIMUS: 04CF2088
CLASS: 3
COUNT: 2
OFFENSE: AGG BATTERY/WEAPON/NO FIREARM
CUSTODY DATE: 06/10/2004
SENTENCE: 3 YEARS 0 MONTHS 0 DAYS
COUNTY: LAKE
SENTENCE DISCHARGED?: YES
MITTIMUS: 99CF2838
CLASS: 2
COUNT: 1
OFFENSE: ROBBERY
CUSTODY DATE: 05/14/2002
SENTENCE: 4 YEARS 0 MONTHS 0 DAYS
COUNTY: LAKE
SENTENCE DISCHARGED?: YES | Source: IL State Dept of Corrections
Update posted on Oct 29, 2008 - 10:57PM |
Anthony L. Brown, currently facing 19 criminal counts inlcuding charges of dog-fighting, drugs and weapons possession will appear in court for a pre-trial conference on November 8, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. at the Lake County courthouse.
According to reports, Lake County sheriff's officers were called to his house because of reports of a foul odor last spring.
Once inside, deputies allegedly found 16 pit bulls in cages without food or water and a blood-splattered fighting ring in the basement.
Many of the dogs were covered with cuts and scars, and 10 eventually had to be euthanized. | Source: Lake County Case # 07-CF-1816
Update posted on Nov 6, 2007 - 1:37PM |
A Beach Park man pleaded not guilty to charges he was running a dog fighting operation in the basement of his rented home.
Anthony Brown, 24, also faces drug and weapons charges stemming from the July 12 raid on his home at 12700 Chapin Road.
Assistant State's Attorney Rod Drobinski said Lake County sheriff's police were called to the house because of reports of a foul odor.
Once inside, deputies found 16 pit bulls in cages without food or water, and a blood-splattered fighting ring in the basement, Drobinksi said.
Many of the dogs were covered with cuts and scars, Drobinski said, and 10 eventually had to be euthanized.
Police also found illegal animal steroids and other drugs related to dog fighting in the house, Drobinksi said. A handgun was found in a concealed panel in a wall, he said.
Brown, who has felony convictions for robbery and aggravated battery, was charged with being an armed habitual criminal for possessing the weapon.
He is also charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, dog fighting and unlawful possession of controlled substances.
Brown is held in the Lake County jail on $50,000 bond, and is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 20. | Source: The Daily Herald - Aug 16, 2007
Update posted on Aug 19, 2007 - 8:05PM |
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