Dog-fighting - 9 dogs seized
Indianapolis, IN (US)Incident Date: Friday, Aug 6, 2010
County: Marion
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 1 files available
Alleged:
» Anthony Pippins, Jr.
» Tyrus Williams
» Shinitara Kemp
» Maurice Ervin
» Alice Lee
» Jermaine Dorsey
» Gregory Jefferson
» Joseph McClendon
» Edward Matthews
» Corey McClendon
» John Adams
» Michael Brown
» Jajuan Jones
» Alonzo Smiley
» Bobby Johnson
» Jermaine Perry
» Lamont Grant
» Sammie Lee
» Charles Richardson
» Tiffany Allen
» Leslie Anthony
» Willie Thomas
Case Updates: 4 update(s) available
Indianapolis police arrested 23 people and seized several pit bulls, some of them injured, in a suspected dogfighting raid, the largest ring veteran police officers can remember.
The arrests were made late Friday night and early Saturday morning after a search warrant was obtained for a home in the 3000 block of West 60th Street, on Indianapolis' northwest side, 6News' Rick Hightower reported.
When officers went into the home, a fight was taking place in a ring in the garage, Lt. Jeff Duhamell said.
Nine pit bulls, some of them scarred, scratched and bloodied, were removed from inside and outside the home, along with drugs, more than $10,000 cash, guns and fighting equipment, police said.
All of those arrested, including men, women and one juvenile, were preliminarily charged with attending an animal fighting contest, a misdemeanor.
"They have that many arrests and have a location that is ... very sophisticated as far as what they were doing, the actual pit itself," said Indianapolis police Lt. Jeff Duhamell. "Our SWAT team hit it right about 10:30, and when they made entry, the actual fights were going on, which is, in itself, very rare."
The home was equipped as a training area for the animals, complete with treadmills and steroids and hypodermic needles to inject the animals, police said.
Investigators also seized several vehicles that were outside the home at the time of the raid.
"It was 30-something cops," said one neighbor, who didn't want to be identified. "They blocked the street off. Everybody was very surprised about that."
6News attempted to speak with the occupants of the home Saturday afternoon, but no one came to the door. On Sunday, an occupant told 6News to get off the property.
One of the men arrested during the raid, Jajuan Jones, claimed that he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"As soon as I came to the garage door, they was lifting the garage door," he said.
Neighbors were aghast about what police allege was happening so close to them.
"I don't know. What person does that?" said Paul Evans, who lives nearby. "This is a member of the family … I can't imagine it."
Case UpdatesAn Indianapolis church is paying the price after their pastor's son was arrested in connection with what police called the city's largest ever dogfighting bust.
Anthony Pippens Jr. was among 23 people arrested during an Aug. 6 raid of a suspected dogfighting ring in the 3000 block of West 60th Street.
Nine pit bulls, some of them scarred, scratched and bloodied, were removed from inside and outside the home, along with drugs, more than $10,000 cash, guns and fighting equipment, police said.
Investigators also seized a 2002 Ford Explorer registered to the Greater New Hope Church at 3400 W. 71st St., the church Pippens' father, the Rev. Anthony Pippens Sr., founded.
Police said Pippens Jr. used the SUV to transport a pit bull to the fight.
He was charged with possession of an animal for fighting, promotion and use of an animal at a fighting contest, both felonies, and attending an animal fighting contest, a misdemeanor.
Pippens Sr., answered a church phone on Tuesday, but told 6News he didn't "know that his son was involved" in dog fighting, and declined to comment further.
Police have initiated forfeiture actions against the Ford Explorer and eight other vehicles seized during the raid.
Pippens Jr. is free on bond while awaiting trial. | Source: theindychannel.com - Aug 18, 2010
Update posted on Sep 2, 2010 - 6:29PM |
Saved from a dog fighting ring only to be put to death - that's what happened to some of the pit bulls police confiscated earlier this month when they broke up a dog fighting ring on the city's west side.
It was a death sentence Friday morning for five pit bulls at Animal Care and Control of Indianapolis.
"They had to pay the ultimate price," said Adam Garrett, Animal Care and Control. "It's never easy. Our staff doesn't enjoy doing it. Nobody wanted to go back there and do that."
Investigators seized nine pit bulls earlier this month from a west side home where police say they busted one of the most elaborate dog fighting rings they've ever seen. Twenty-three people were arrested in connection with the case.
Four of the nine pit bulls weren't euthanized but they're not even at Animal Control anymore. They've been sent to rescues and other shelters to be rehabilitated and possibly adopted out.
"It's our hope to help as many of these guys as we can," said Garrett.
Dog Trainer and Behavioral Specialist Fernando Pastran hoped to rehabilitate the pit bulls, even the worst ones. He's offered to try. Pastron has worked with hundreds of animals, some involved in dog fighting.
"It's the only crime when the victim gets killed after the case is closed," he said.
Pastran is troubled five of the dogs were already euthanized, believing they all could have been saved and given a chance at rehabilitation.
"If that for some reason didn't work then we had to euthanize the dog, but at least we tried, you know?" he said.
But Animal Care and Control of Indianapolis says they didn't have a choice.
"They just weren't dogs that we felt comfortable releasing back out into the community," said Garrett. | Source: wthr - Aug 27, 2010
Update posted on Aug 30, 2010 - 3:39PM |
Twenty-two people accused of taking part in a dog fighting ring had their initial court hearing Wednesday morning.
24-Hour News 8 spoke with court officials who said it was a busier than usual morning because all the defendants were supposed to appear in Criminal Court 1 but were moved at the last moment to Criminal Court 9.
Court administrators had to hustle organizing court files and accommodating all the defendants on top of the other cases Judge Shatrese Flowers will be hearing Wednesday.
The probable cause affidavit and the charging documents outline the charges against the 22 people accused of taking part in a dog fighting ring. Charges range from promoting animal fighting to attending a bout.
Last Friday night, IMPD officers and federal agents moved in on a home on West 60th Street in Indianapolis. What they found were dogs with injuries that police say are associated with dog fighting.
Investigators also found a treadmill and steroids for the dogs, as well as drugs and weapons. Thousands of dollars in cash were also rounded up from the suspects.
Police say there was a fighting arena and bloody carpeting at the home.
24-Hour News 8 learned 21 of the defendants are out on bond and are expected back in court September 7 for a pre-trial hearing.
A 22nd defendant, Bobby Johnson, is the only person behind bars awaiting trial for two other unrelated cases of child molest and drunk driving. | Source: wishtv.com - Aug 11, 2010
Update posted on Aug 24, 2010 - 2:48PM |
The dogs involved in the biggest dog fighting bust in the city's history face an uncertain future.
Police arrested 23 people and took nine dogs from a home on West 60th Street Friday night. No one is being allowed to see the dogs until they are evaluated and there are already groups hoping to adopt the dogs and rehabilitate them.
The staff and volunteers at the Humane Society of Indianapolis see more than their fair share of the violence inflicted upon dogs.
"When we see dogs come into shelters that have frontal injuries like that, it is suspicious, certainly," said Christine Jeschke with the Humane Society.
Sunday morning, a pit bull named "Skinny" was found covered with scars, wandering around downtown. She was brought to the Humane Society, where the staff believes she had been a bait dog used to train the real fighters. Her wounds can be fixed, but her condition is a harbinger of the world from which she came.
"Because with dog fighting comes every other criminal element and it should be a concern to everybody in this community," said Jeschke.
A pit bull named "Stella" was in similar shape, but her temperament has changed. Her owner, Fernando Pastran, is a personal trainer for people and a dog behavior counselor. Often times, he is a bad dog's last chance.
"After being fighters, they can be pets, as I say always," Pastran said. "Stella, for example, she is one of my dogs here, she wasn't a fighting dog before, but she sure was aggressive with other dogs. Right now, she lives with three other dogs and my girls and she is the safest dog ever."
When IMPD busted the dog fighting ring Friday, they found drugs, guns and plenty of cash. Pastran says the dogs are just the tools used to feed the addiction of gambling and are easier to fix than their owners.
"Also, I think rehabilitating people is a little more difficult than rehabilitating animals," he said. | Source: WTHR - Aug 9, 2010
Update posted on Aug 9, 2010 - 2:48AM |
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