Cockfighting - over 170 birds Clyde, MI (US) Incident Date: Friday, Dec 26, 2003 County: Allegan Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Alleged: » Pedro Verduzco Mendoza » Jerardo Antonio Mendoza

Case ID: 1975 Classification: Fighting Animal: chicken View more cases in MI (US) Login to Watch this Case

A father and son from Clyde Township were arraigned Tuesday in connection with a cockfighting ring in the Allegan County township. Pedro Verduzco Mendoza, 55, was charged with possessing fighting animals and possessing a facility used to house cockfighting.

His son, Jerardo Antonio Mendoza, 24, was charged with two counts of possession of a fighting animal.

Both possessing the facility and possessing the animals are felonies that carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison if convicted.

The arrests were part of 11 warrants issued for nine people by the Allegan County prosecutor's office last week.

The remaining seven people live out of state, said Allegan County Undersheriff Jim Hull. Warrants for their arrest are on the charge of attending an illegal animal fight, a four-year felony.

On Dec. 26, deputies and detectives spent hours watching people come and go from a home in the 2200 block of 54th Street after being tipped off by Drug Enforcement Administration agents about possible animal fights.

Police searched the home the following day and seized an undisclosed amount of cash, cockfighting videos, fighting paraphernalia, an unregistered pistol and 21 birds trained as fighting cocks.

Police also found 14 birds that appeared to have died from injuries sustained during fights.

The home was raided a second time on Jan. 5 and police seized 141 additional fighting roosters, along with other records and items, including steroids apparently used on the birds.

The birds are being held in an undisclosed location, cared for by Allegan County animal control, Hull said.

"They eat about 200 pounds of grain a day," Hull said.

A cost estimate on caring for the animals wasn't available, but Hull said the county is hoping to recoup some of its money with fines.

The birds' future is unknown. Hull said a hearing will be scheduled within 30 days to determine what to do with them.

Hull said cockfighting has been a problem in the Clyde Township area for years.

"It's been something we've been dealing with, but we haven't had anything on this scale," Hull said.

After a similar bust in Ottawa County's Olive Township in 2002, 200-plus birds were killed because drugs had been used to make the roosters more violent.

Hull said there is evidence that similar drugs were used in the birds confiscated in the Clyde Township raid.

In addition to using drugs on the birds, they had also been "modified." Their spurs had been removed and covered with bandages. Also taken during the first raid were "fighting instruments," typically razors that are attached to the bird's leg in the spot where the spur was located.

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References

	The Holland Sentinel - Jan 7, 2003
	The Holland Sentinel - Jan 3, 2003
	The Detroit News

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