Dog-fighting - one suspect arrested, 3 at large
Starkville, MS (US)

Incident Date: Monday, Jun 14, 2010
County: Oktibbeha

Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Nathaniel Sanchez Hinton

Police on Monday charged in connection with an overnight dogfight at a local apartment complex and are searching for other suspects believed to be involved in the incident.

Nathaniel Sanchez Hinton, 25, of 305 Everglade Ave., Apt. 21C, was charged with being a spectator of a dogfight early Monday morning when Starkville Police Department patrol officers came upon a dogfight that was breaking up behind Building 26 at the Brookville Gardens apartment complex on Everglade Avenue.

Hinton’s bond was set at $5,000 on the charge.

“The patrol officers did a very good job containing the situation,” said Police Chief David Lindley Monday afternoon. “They pretty much caught the perpetrators in the act.”

SPD officers went to the Brookville Gardens complex shortly after 12 a.m. Monday after E-911 operators received a report that dog fighting was taking place. Five officers -- Jarred Miley, Shane Kelly, Jimmie Thomas, Kenley Reaves and Stephanie Perkins -- descended on the complex, approaching on foot in hopes of catching those involved in the act of fighting the dogs, according to SPD reports from the incident.

As they neared the Brookville Gardens, the officers noticed four African-American males with two dogs behind Building 26, apparently having just completed fighting the dogs, SPD reports state.

Three of the men were seen walking around the north end of the building with one dog, while the fourth was seen walking around the south side of the building with a pit bulldog.

The fourth man, later identified as Hinton, was asked by another man if he “did any good with his dog,” reports state.

The suspect said he had, continuing to walk toward a locked gate at Highland Street, eventually jumping the gate as his dog walked through, reports state. Approaching from Highland Street, officers stopped the suspect and documented the injuries to the dog, which had several cuts on its face, the back of its head and the inside of its left ear, as well as blood round its mouth and a bite wound on its right leg, police reports state.

Officers noticed the suspect was very sweaty, had dog hair on his wrists and that his shoes were wet with grass on them, SPD reports state.

The suspect was immediately arrested, and Animal Control Officer Sara Hankins was immediately called to take care of the injured dog, reports state. SPD officers searched the area to locate the other three men and dog involved in the incident, but they had fled the scene.

After being taken into custody, the suspect told police he had initially observed the dog fight from the breezeway of Building 26 for about 10 minutes and then purchased the dog from the owner for $40 in order to breed it and sell its puppies. The suspect also told officers had viewed four dog fights, but did not know any names of the others involved.

SPD Sgt. Chadd Garnett on Monday that detectives were working to identify the other men involved in the dogfighting incident and were following multiple leads.

Garnett encouraged anyone with information about the incident or the identities of the other men involved is encouraged to call the Police Department at 323-4131 or Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers at 1-800-530-7151.

All Crime Stoppers tips are confidential and could result in a reward of up to $1,000 for the caller if the tip leads to other arrests in this case or any felony crime.

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