Cockfighting - 36 birds seized Alto, GA (US) Incident Date: Sunday, Feb 27, 2005 County: Habersham Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Alleged: » Martin Becerra » Alfredo Alman Campa » Iram Capistran » Reynol Castrejon » Omar Hernandez DeLacruz » Jorge Deltoro-Gutierrez » Esteban Gomez » Horacio Augustine Gomez » Jesus Gomez » Jose Gomez » Ernesto Guerrero » Ruben Martinez » Alejandro Mora-Corona » Robles Ricardo Reyes » Javier Sanchez » Eduardo Vazquez

Case ID: 3947 Classification: Fighting Animal: chicken View more cases in GA (US) Login to Watch this Case

A routine call led to almost three dozen arrests Sunday afternoon when officers located an illegal rooster-fighting operation near Alto. Cpl. Michael Long was dispatched to 700 Underwood Road and, upon his arrival, observed several people located on the property.

"Approximately 20 people returned to the building at my command," Long's report states. "I had all of the people who returned sit on the bleachers inside the building so I could keep them contained."

Long called for additional units from the sheriff's office, Baldwin Police Department and Demorest Police Department to help round up the rest of the people who fled. While rooster fighting is nothing new to Habersham County, it remains an unlawful activity.

"It's illegal, inhumane and we will not tolerate this," said Sheriff DeRay Fincher.

Fincher said he believes Sunday's operation is not the only one of its type here.

"I think there are some other incidents going on around the county from the information I've received," Fincher said Monday. "We are investigating those fully."

Unlike several previous rooster-fighting operations, Fincher said at this time there are no unrelated criminal charges such as drugs or stolen vehicles.

"This is still an active investigation and more arrests possibly are forthcoming," Fincher said. That investigation is by the sheriff's office, Habersham County Animal Control, Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Georgia Department of Agriculture.

Preliminary numbers from Sunday show that 19 people were charged with misdemeanor cruelty to animals and released with appearance tickets, 10 people were charged with misdemeanor cruelty to animals and obstruction of an officer and taken to the Habersham County Detention Center for booking, and two people were charged with felony cruelty to animals and taken to the detention center for booking.

Additionally, one person was charged with cruelty to children and misdemeanor cruelty to children and one person was charged with felony cruelty to animals and cruelty to children.

Those booked at the Habersham County Detention Center include:

* Martin Becerra, 65, Gainesville, obstruction of an officer, cruelty to animals;
*Alfredo Alman Campa, 28, Gainesville, obstruction of an officer, cruelty to animals;
* Iram Capistran, 34, Gainesville, misdemeanor cruelty to animals, felony cruelty to children;
* Reynol Castrejon, 23, Gainesville, obstruction of an officer, cruelty to animals;
* Omar Hernandez DeLacruz, 25, Gillsville, obstruction of an officer, cruelty to animals;
* Jorge Deltoro-Gutierrez, 38, Gainesville, obstruction of an officer, cruelty to animals;
* Esteban Gomez, 44, Gainesville, obstruction of an officer, cruelty to animals;
* Horacio Augustine Gomez, 17, Gainesville, obstruction of an officer, cruelty to animals;
* Jesus Gomez, 24, Gainesville, obstruction of an officer, cruelty to animals;
* Jose Gomez, 25, Gainesville, obstruction of an officer, cruelty to animals;
* Ernesto Guerrero, 26, Gainesville, obstruction of an officer, cruelty to animals;
* Ruben Martinez, 44, Gainesville, obstruction of an officer, cruelty to animals;
* Alejandro Mora-Corona, 19, Gainesville, felony cruelty to animals;
* Robles Ricardo Reyes, 26, Virginia Beach, Va., obstruction of an officer, cruelty to animals;
* Javier Sanchez, 21, Gainesville, obstruction of an officer, cruelty to animals;
* Eduardo Vazquez, 20, Gainesville, obstruction of an officer, cruelty to animals.

The fighting pit was located in a modified outbuilding, Long said Monday. Officers impounded six vehicles and turned 36 live roosters over to animal control officers.

Asked what will happen to the birds, Long said, "We're working on that right now. We're trying to contact ASPCA or someone to house them because our animal control is not set up to handle them."

Anyone with useful information about Sunday's rooster-fighting operation or similar ones is asked to call the Habersham County Sheriff's Office at 754-6666.

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The Northeast Georgian - March 1, 2005

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