Dog-fighting - 7 dogs seized
Rochester, NY (US)Incident Date: Sunday, Oct 17, 2010
County: Monroe
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged:
» Carlos Contreras
» Andrew Liberi
» Benji Hood
» Darius D. Peterson
» Robert J. Peterson
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
Dozens of bite wounds cover the body of a 2 year old pit bull. Police found her bleeding in the attic, fresh from a prolonged fight.
"It's not a quick couple of bites like you'd see in a street fight," says animal cruelty investigator Reno DiDomenico. "These dogs are trained to fight for 2 hours or more so they go though a lot of trauma and tearing of the flesh."
Police called to investigate alleged drug crimes at this empty building on North Street instead found a wooden fighting ring set up in a rear wear house area. A second dog-injured but in better shape -- was seized from a car.
Investigators discovered five other pit bull-mixed breed dogs in a pen in the basement. Two of them had deep scars on their muzzles and heads from previous fighting.
Carlos Contreras and Andrew Liberi now face felony animal fighting charges. Benji Hood and brothers Darius and Robert Peterson were later arrested and charged with owning dogs used for fighting.
Cruelty investigators say animal fighting goes on in the Rochester area often, most likely weekly. The motive is money, many gamble on the fights. Because the wooden rings are portable they are moved from place to place and infiltrating these operations is difficult.
In this case, the irony is that all of the seized dogs are affectionate, even timid around people. "They have very good temperaments," says investigator DiDomenico adding "they are friendly to people but not to other animals."
The dogs will be evaluated and will likely be given over to rescue homes or people familiar with how to raise animals that have had this kind of fight training. They will not be available for adoption to the public, but Lollypop Farm says people who want to help can do so by donating for their medical and other care.
Sunday's tip off to police came just in time for the most injured of the dogs. She will recover. Starting today, her life will get better.
Case UpdatesTwo Rochester men accused of holding a dog fight last night both pleaded not guilty today in City Court.
Carlos I. Contreras, 37, of Pullman Street and Andrew W. Liberi, 34, of Norton Street were both charged with animal fighting, a felony, according to City Court documents.
The two men are accused of possessing six pit bulls and encouraging the dogs to fight at 342 Norton St. last night. Liberi, who lives at the Norton Street residence, was also charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and third-degree criminal possession of marijuana, both felonies, according to court documents.
Richard Gerbasi, vice president of operations for the Humane Society of Greater Rochester, said a concerned neighbor called police yesterday and the responding officers found the dogs, animal fighting paraphernalia and several people at the residence about 8:30 p.m.
The dogs were seized and will be taken to the Humane Society's Lollypop Farm in Perinton to be evaluated, Gerbasi said.
Officers found a loaded handgun in Liberi's parked van, and found marijuana in his bedroom, according to City Court records.
Five people were apprehended at the scene, including Contreras and Liberi.
Additional animal cruelty charges are pending, Gerbasi said.
Contreras and Liberi today were remanded to the Monroe County Jail. Contreras is being held on $2,000 cash bail or $6,000 bond and Liberi is being held in lieu of $7,000 cash bail or $21,000 bond.
Both men are expected to return to court to answer the charges this week.
Contreras will return at 11 a.m. tomorrow to appear with an attorney and Liberi's preliminary hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday. | Source: rocnow.com - Oct 18, 2010
Update posted on Oct 22, 2010 - 11:08AM |
Three more city men have been accused of holding a dog fight in Rochester over the weekend.
Benji Hood, 36, of Nellis Park, Darius D. Peterson, 23, of Oriole Street and Robert J. Peterson, 46, of Chatham Garden Apartments, were all charged with animal fighting, a felony, according to City Court documents.
The men were charged following a dog fight Sunday night at 342 North St. Two other men -- Carlos I. Contreras, 37, of Pullman Street and Andrew W. Liberi, 34, of Norton Street -- were also charged with animal fighting in connection with the same case.
Hood and the Petersons were accused of possessing dogs with bite wounds at the residence where the fights allegedly occurred.
Richard Gerbasi, vice president of operations for the Humane Society of Greater Rochester, said a concerned neighbor called police Sunday and the responding officers found the dogs, animal fighting paraphernalia and several people at the residence about 8:30 p.m.
The dogs were seized and will be taken to the Humane Society's Lollypop Farm in Perinton to be evaluated, Gerbasi said.
All five men were remanded to the Monroe County Jail. Contreras, Hood and the Petersons are each being held on $2,000 cash bail or $6,000 bond. Liberi, who was also charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and third-degree criminal possession of marijuana, both felonies, is being held in lieu of $7,000 cash bail or $21,000 bond.
All of the men are expected to return to court to answer the charges this week. | Source: Democrat and Chronicle - Oct 19, 2010
Update posted on Oct 20, 2010 - 2:17AM |
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