Cockfighting
Tucson, AZ (US)Incident Date: Saturday, Feb 5, 2005
County: Pima
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged:
» Luis A. Molina-Jimenez
» Rene R. Alvarez-Mercado
» Jesus G. Molina-Jimenez
» William M. Flores
» Jose R. Velarde
» Israel Mejia
» Edgar O. Yepiz
» Mario Gonzales
» Luey O. Peinado
Police arrested nine people on animal-cruelty charges during a weekend cockfighting bust in which officers seized steel spurs, leather straps and more than $500 in cash. At about 2 p.m. on Feb 5, police received calls about a large group of people attending a cockfight at a home in the 1300 block of South Ninth Avenue, according to police reports.
Several vehicles were parked in front of the house and some people ran when police arrived. Drops of blood and feathers were scattered in the yard and a live rooster was in a closed box.
Officers detained a 15-year-old boy who lives at the house.
He told them that men approached him and asked to have a cockfight at the house, reports stated.
There were already roosters and a group of people there and the boy told police he went inside when the fights started.
Luis A. Molina-Jimenez, 19, is charged with cruelty to animals/poultry and possession of marijuana, both felony counts.
Rene R. Alvarez-Mercado, 20, and Jesus G. Molina-Jimenez, 20, also face felony animal-cruelty charges.
Police said they believe the Molina-Jimenez brothers brought the roosters to the house and Alvarez-Mercado collected the betting money.
William M. Flores, 22, Jose R. Velarde, 24, Israel Mejia, 18, Edgar O. Yepiz, 25, Mario Gonzales, 19, and Luey O. Peinado, 15, all face misdemeanor animal-cruelty charges.
There is one more person being sought in the incident, according to police reports. References |
