Cockfighting - 7 birds seized, 28 found dead Polk City, FL (US) Incident Date: Sunday, Jul 22, 2007 County: Polk Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Charges: Felony CTA Case Images: 3 files available Alleged: » Oscar Herrara » Jose Herrara » Brian Edward Mitchell » Ronald Lee Rose

Case ID: 11831 Classification: Fighting Animal: chicken View more cases in FL (US) Login to Watch this Case

A large group of cheering men in a rural part of Polk County led to the arrests of 17 men on suspicion they were taking part in a cockfighting operation described as "very professional" by the county sheriff. With a helicopter hovering overhead, deputies showed up in the pasture off County Road 557-A about 5 p.m. Sunday.

Officers raided a rural area of Polk County Monday and found a massive grave of freshly killed roosters, drawers full of sharp fighting spurs for birds and $25,000 in cash.

A bloody fighting box where the roosters apparently fought to the death was also found at the scene, police said.

"It was really, a very professional operation," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. "They had a box, a fighting box, and they had benches set up on each side of the box and the benches were numbered. You sat on the bench in order to place your bets."

Deputies said a helicopter pilot in the area made the initial discovery after hearing men cheering in the woods.

When officers arrived, the group of men scattered.

Two of the 17 men captured and arrested were from Orlando; Oscar Herrara, 36, and Jose Herrara, 40, according to police. One of the men had a hat on that said "cockfighting." They were charged with third-degree felonies.

Near the grave of 28 rooster corpses, officers found seven badly scarred birds still alive. They were euthanized, the report said.

Police are trying to determine how large the cockfighting ring was in Polk County.

They said more arrests may be coming soon.

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References

	Local 6 News - July 24, 2007
	WESH - July 24, 2007
	Orlando Sentinel - July 23, 2007
	Tampa Bay's 10 -July 24,2007

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