Dog-fighting, narcotics seized
Selma, AL (US)

Incident Date: Friday, Jul 18, 2008
County: Dallas

Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Marcus DeShawn Jones

A search of a home by the Selma Police Department found crack cocaine, illegal gambling place and dogs for fighting.

The Selma Narcotics Unit searched a home on the 2100 block of L.L. Anderson on Friday morning.

A daycare sits two houses away from the residence. Under Alabama law, selling narcotics near schools or daycares within a three-mile radius adds five years onto the sentence without possible parole.

Alabama legislature passed this law in 1989 under former Gov. Guy Hunt.

"People endanger the lives of children when they sell drugs that close to a school," said a narcotics officer, who wished to remain nameless because it would compromise his ability to work undercover.

Officers soon noticed that they were not the only ones watching.

A camera monitored the activity on the front porch. A television played back the live feed in the house.

The residents of the house were not at home when the officers acted on the search warrant issued for Marcus DeShawn Jones, 26. They are searching for him.

Officers had not determined specific charges as of press time.

Police confiscated seven dogs, mostly pit bulls, and placed them in the Central Alabama Animal Shelter.

Officers believe the dogs were used for fighting. Police said they found a pool table set up and dice for gambling.

Scars typical from dog fighting were visible on all of the dogs, officers said.

"Several dogs were found in the back with log chains around their necks," the officer said. "One dog had a log chain and a 25-pound weight hooked to a steel cable on a line to run back and forth."

Anthony Smith, a worker at the shelter, also thinks someone used the dogs for fights.

Smith said the dogs did not exhibit any unusually aggressive behavior.

The dogs are not up for adoption, Smith said.

Alabama law classifies dog fighting as a Class C felony. Conviction of a Class C felony is imprisonment between one year and a day to 10 years and a possible fine up to $15,000.

Officers said the suspect, Jones, has been known to frequent Lapsley Street, Small Avenue and the Potters Station Community.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Marcus DeShawn Jones, contact the Selma Police at 874-6611.

References

• « AL State Animal Cruelty Map
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