Cockfighting
Christiana, TN (US)Incident Date: Saturday, Jun 6, 2009
County: Rutherford
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Thathium Thathium
More than 75 people were observing a cockfighting match in an area off Manchester Pike in Christiana Saturday when Sheriff's Cpl. Michael Moody rolled up on the scene, according to a police report.
Thathium Thathium, 54, of 12600 Manchester Pike, was arrested and charged with cockfighting, classified as a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 11 months and 29 days in jail and a $2,500 fine, since he owned the home where the activities were under way.
"As soon as the (other) subjects noticed me they grabbed two roosters from the pit and ran into the heavy brush surrounding the property," Moody reported after busting up the operation.
Moody had been dispatched to the area, near Hoovers Gap Road, in reference to a complaint about cockfighting. When he arrived he saw "50 to 60 vehicles in the yard."
"I got out of my vehicle and walked through the back yard to locate and speak with the homeowner," he reported. "As I walked through the back yard I observed approximately 75 subjects standing around an active cockfight."
After the attendees scattered, Moody was able to locate Thathium, who identified himself as the home's owner. Moody detained him until backup arrived.
Once other officers arrived on the scene, Moody surveyed the area and what he found was shocking.
"I observed approximately two dozen pet carriers and cardboard boxes that contained roosters," he said. "There were also two large fighting pits that were stained with blood and several homemade medical kits lying around the property."
Moody then located one of the roosters, which was involved in the cockfight, near a creek secured in a cage. He reported he also observed a number of vehicles with tags from Alabama, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Missouri and other states at the scene.
"Animal Control was contacted and Callum Hattingh responded to the scene to assist," Moody reported. "After Hattingh spoke with Phillip Gordon (acting state veterinarian) and Julie McMillan (Office of the Inspector General), the decision was made to only take one of the roosters due to it having severe injuries to its head."
Thathium signed the rooster over to animal control officers and it was removed from the property, according to Moody. Thathium claimed ownership of all the other roosters on the property and stated the animals were "just boxing and that none of them ever die from their injuries."
Thathium was then placed under arrest and transferred to the Rutherford County jail, where bond was set at $2,000d. He is scheduled to be appear in General Sessions Court July 20. References« TN State Animal Cruelty Map
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