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Case ID: 14104
Classification: Fighting
Animal: dog (pit-bull)
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Dog-fighting - 50 people charged
Detroit, MI (US)

Incident Date: Monday, Jul 14, 2008
County: Wayne

Charges: Misdemeanor, Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged:
» Nathan Coker
» Stvonio Tyson
» Joseph Turner
» Antonio Barley
» Claude Smith

Case Updates: 3 update(s) available

More than 50 people were arrested and $27,000 in cash was seized early this morning after Wayne County Sheriff's Deputies raided a dogfight on Detroit's east side.

Wayne County Sheriff Wayne Evans said two dozen deputies, including the Sheriff's Special Response Team, as well as federal Drug Enforcement Agency agents and Michigan Humane Society officers were acting on a tip when they raided the dogfight being held at 12:30 a.m. Monday inside a two-car garage in the 200 block of Nevada between Woodward and John R.

Two pit bull terriers had just started to fight when officers stormed the garage and broke up the match. Evans said officers were able to catch most of the patrons and the suspected fight promoters. A total of 53 people were arrested, including three juveniles under 17 who were turned over to their parents.

One dog was injured and being treated by the Humane Society. Another injured pit bull was carried off by its owner, who was stopped and arrested by deputies. The dog was shot after it bit one of the deputies, then ran away. As of Monday evening, the wounded dog was still loose.

Spectators and the fight's ring leaders face felony animal fighting charges that carry up to four years in prison if they are convicted. Four people identified as organizers could face additional fines and community service if convicted.

The raid is significant because it is the first conducted by the Wayne County Sheriff's Office in Evans' five years there. It is also significant because organizers, dog owners and spectators usually operate in such secrecy that it is difficult for law enforcement to be in position to break up a fight in action.

"It's unfathomable that so many would pay to witness such an inhumane display," Evans said. "Worse, this seems to have become, for many, a legitimate and normal form of entertainment."

Dog fight fans are privately contacted, the sheriff said, and brought to the undisclosed location for the fight. The event is run like a boxing match, with a pre-fight weigh-in.

A portion of the $27,000 in cash seized came from a $65 cover charge organizers assessed on spectators. The largest portion of the money is believed to have come from wagers put on the dogs by their owners and spectators. Deputies also seized three handguns as well as small amounts of marijuana and cocaine.

The suspects are expected to be arraigned Tuesday in 36th District Court in Detroit.


Case Updates

Wayne County Sheriff Warren Evans said Monday that the forced release of 55 persons arrested after deputies busted a dogfighting ring earlier this month has been resolved with arraignment of the alleged leaders of the operation and dates set for the rest to show up in court.

Suspects cannot be held more than 48 hours before facing formal arraignment, and the sheriff's office failed to meet the deadline to charge 52 men and three women police arrested in a garage behind an east side home, where two dogs were fighting in a makeshift ring early on the morning of July 14.

"All of the main actors were taken back into custody again," Evans said Monday. "It was a tremendous amount of work to get done in 48 hours. I just know that we were smart enough to not violate anyone's rights to jeopardize the cases."

All 55, including the spectators, face felony charges with potential sentences of up to 4 years. Police seized more than $27,000 in cash, three handguns and a small amount of drugs in the raid.

Busting the dogfight and gambling operation was difficult, because its location moved frequently, with spectators and participants getting notification of the site only hours in advance by text message. More than 20 deputies moving on the raid got only minutes warning of the large crowd in the garage.

The ring leaders, charged in 36th District Court last week, and were ordered to return for a preliminary examination on Tuesday. The leaders, all from Detroit, were identified by the Sheriff's Department as:

  • Nathan Coker, 32, owner of one of the two fighting dogs. Coker is alleged to have run from the garage with his animal in his arms, but was caught trying to jump a fence. His pit bull was shot by police after it allegedly bit an officer. The dog was found alive a few days later after authorities got a telephone tip from someone who saw the wounded animal. The dog was taken into custody by the Michigan Humane Society and its condition is unknown, said sheriff's spokesman John Roach. Coker is free on a personal recognizance bond.

  • Stvonio Tyson, 37, owner of the other pit bull, was released on $10,000 bond. His animal also remains in Humane Society custody.

  • Joseph Turner, 51, identified as an associate of one of the dog owners, was released on $5,000 bond.

  • Antonio Barley, 37, owner of the house and garage on Nevada, was released on $10,000 bond.

  • Claude Smith, 44, identified as "the referee," who was overseeing the fight that investigators said included a prize fight-like pre-event ritual of bathing and weighing the dogs.

    Evans said all but about 20 of the spectators also have reported to court to be formally charged. He said the rest are expected to appear in 36th District Court within a week.
  • Source: Detroit News - July 28, 2008
    Update posted on Jul 28, 2008 - 3:29PM 
    The Wayne County sheriff's department says it has released 55 people arrested earlier in the week when authorities busted what they described as a major dog fighting ring in Detroit.

    The Detroit News reports that the department and the prosecutor's office failed to meet a 48-hour deadline to formally charge 52 men and three women police arrested early Monday on the city's east side.

    The Wayne County prosecutor's office says warrants were issued for 12 people, including six suspected ringleaders, and court dates will be set within the next two weeks. Others were warned they likely will face court dates.

    Authorities say the arrests came at the start of a fight between two pit bulls. One dog was caught and the other escaped.
    Source: WLNS News - Jul 17, 2008
    Update posted on Jul 17, 2008 - 12:31PM 
    Arraignments have been rescheduled to Wednesday in 36th District Court for 53 people arrested when Wayne County Sheriff's deputies raided a dog right at a home on Detroit's east side early Monday.

    Spectators and the dog fight's ring leaders face four-year felony animal fighting charges if they are convicted. Four people identified as organizers could face additional fines and community service if convicted.

    Wayne County Sheriff Warren Evans said two dozen deputies, including the Sheriff's Special Response Team, as well as federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents and Michigan Humane Society officers raided the dogfight being held at 12:30 a.m. Monday inside a two-car garage in the 200 block of Nevada between Woodward and John R.

    Two pit bull terriers had just started to fight when officers stormed the garage, ending the match. Officers seized $27,000 in cash, three handguns and small amounts of marijuana and cocaine.
    Source: freep.com - Jul 15, 2008
    Update posted on Jul 15, 2008 - 4:07PM 

    References

    • « MI State Animal Cruelty Map
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