40 roosters removed from fighting arena
Gridley, CA (US)Incident Date: Sunday, Jan 31, 2010
County: Butte
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged:
» Glester Garcia Arzate
» Isaac Mesa Lopez
» Abraham Valencia
Three men were arrested and more than 40 roosters were captured after Butte County sheriff's deputies broke up a cockfighting event Sunday northeast of Gridley.
Deputies responded to an anonymous call at 9 a.m. about the event taking place in an orchard at the end of Ord Ranch Road, east of Larkin Road, according to a Sheriff's Office press release.
About 30 to 40 people ran or drove away when deputies arrived, but one man was arrested at the scene. One man crashed his vehicle into an irrigation canal and attempted to swim away, but he was unable to swim. Deputies rescued the man and arrested him after he called for help.
At 11:30 a.m., a California Highway Patrol officer stopped a car traveling north on Highway 99 north of Neal Road. The officer called the Sheriff's Office after discovering mud on the vehicle's undercarriage and chickens in the back seat. Deputies and Butte County Animal Control officers responded and discovered three full-grown roosters and gear to train roosters to fight.
In the orchard, deputies and animal control officers collected several cages, over 40 roosters, betting forms and rooster-training equipment. There were four dead roosters, with wounds consistent with fighting other roosters to the death.
Deputies arrested Glester Garcia Arzate, 23, Isaac Mesa Lopez, 32, and Abran Valencia, 28, on suspicion of willful cruelty to animals and participating in cockfighting.
The investigation is ongoing. References« CA State Animal Cruelty Map
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