Cockfighting - over 100 birds seized
Sonoma, CA (US)Incident Date: Friday, Mar 6, 2009
County: Sonoma
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 1 files available
Abuser names unreleased
Sheriff's deputies broke up what appears to be an extensive cockfighting operation that attracted between 50 and 100 people to a rural home off of Stony Point Road in Sonoma County Friday.
Law enforcement officials remained on the scene Friday afternoon at the Arlington Street house and property where they detained suspects. Deputies said they arrested 43 people in connection with the noontime cockfighting event, many of whom were rounded up after scattering when law enforcement officials arrived.
Police vans arrived about 1:30 p.m. to take the detainees to jail.
"It's pretty uncommon to find a ring like this," said Officer Andrew Lee, with Animal Control, touring the structure's two fighting arenas. "I think I've only seen two or three others."
Deputies received an anonymous tip that cockfighting was occurring just before noon. When deputies arrived they discovered the operation, participants and spectators. Four dead roosters were also found along with 100 other live roosters.
A home break-in was reported nearby and deputies said it was related to people fleeing from the scene of the cockfight. The house sits on property bordered by open fields.
It was not clear who called in the tip about the illegal operation.
Cockfighting, illegal in the United States, pits two or more specially bred birds in an enclosure and typically ends when one of the birds is killed.
Friday's bust is the second in the Bay Area in less than a week. Saturday Oakland police arrested 69 suspects and seized more than 100 roosters during a raid of a cockfighting operation at a warehouse in East Oakland. References« CA State Animal Cruelty Map
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