Cockfighting
Harquahala Valley, AZ (US)

Incident Date: Wednesday, Jul 1, 2009
County: Maricopa

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged:
» Eriberto Cuellar
» Hector Rivera
» Jose Martinez

Maricopa County sheriff's deputies arrested three men for running a cockfighting ring in the far West Valley.

Earlier this week, sheriff's deputies received a call and responded to the scene of an alleged cockfighting ring near Baseline Road and 515th Avenue in Harquahala Valley, Ariz.

Lt. Brian Lee said during a traffic stop near the same location, deputies arrested three blood-covered suspects who were found with several roosters, many of which were dead.

Lee said other roosters that were covered in blood and showing signs of distress had to be euthanized.

The suspects reportedly admitted to deputies that they owned the roosters and held cockfights for profit.

Eriberto Cuellar, 28, Hector Rivera, 31, and Jose Martinez, 19, were all booked into jail for animal cruelty and cockfighting charges.

Martinez and Rivera have also had immigration holds placed on them for being in the country illegally.

"My office will continue to crackdown on all forms of animal cruelty," Sheriff Joe Arpaio said.

References

• AZ Family - July 2, 2009

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