Five pit bull dogs were seized and five men were arrested on March 28 after Minden police officers uncovered an illegal dog-fighting ring. Arrested for felony dog fighting were Chris Coleman, 19, Wesley Branch, 17, Jeremy Rice, 20, Timothy Watson, 17, and Jeremy McClendon, 19, all of Minden.
Also arrested were two juveniles, ages 14 and 16 and Rosalind Day, 34 and Elton Day, 39, also of Minden.
According to Chief T.C. Bloxom, his department received a tip that several men, accompanied by fighting dogs, had been seen going into the woods on south Fairview Street.
Officers responded and discovered a group of people as well as five pit bull dogs, some injured and bleeding.
Bloxom said Rosalind Day demanded possession of her dog, which was one of the five pit bull dogs at the scene. She refused to leave the scene and began resisting officers when they attempted to place her under arrest. During this time, Elton Day allegedly attempted to incite the crowd against the officers.
Both Rosalind and Elton Day were placed under arrest and charged with resisting arrest, resisting an officer and resisting by interfering.
The five arrested for felony dog fighting were transported to Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center. The Days were arrested and later released on bond. The juveniles were transported to the Ware Juvenile Detention Center.
The dogs were picked up by animal control and transported to the shelter. Case Updates| The remaining adult defendants pled to misdemeanor charges on November 18, 2005. Chris Coleman, Jeremy Rice, and Timothy Washington each pled guilty to one count of being a spectator at a dog fight, and each received 10 days in jail and a $100.00 fine. No information is available on the juvenile defendants. | | Update posted on Feb 27, 2007 - 6:24PM |
Five young men charged with dog fighting appeared before District Court Judge Ford Stinson Monday, where two pled guilty to a lesser charge. The other three appear to be continuing to trial.
Wesley Branch, 17, Chris Coleman, 20, Jeremy McClendon, 19, Jeremy Rice, 20, and Timothy Reshard Washington, 18, were arrested March 28 after the Minden Police Department received a tip that several men, accompanied by fighting dogs, had gone into the woods on South Fairview Street.
Officers responded and found a group of people in the woods along with five pit bull dogs, some of which were bleeding.
On Monday, Branch withdrew his plea of not guilty and entered a plea of guilt to a lesser charge of watching a dogfight or attending as a spectator. He was fined $100 plus court costs or five days in the Webster Parish Jail and ordered to pay a $20 probation fee.
McClendon also withdrew his plea of not guilty and pled to the lesser charge of watching a dogfight or attending as a spectator. He too was fined $100 plus court costs or five days in the Webster Parish Jail and ordered to pay a $20 probation fee.
The case against Coleman, Washington and Rice was passed to November 14 by the request of the defense. A trial date has been set for February 13, 2006.
Rice also indicated that he would retain his own council.
According to the Minden Police Department, the dogs had to be put down. | Source: The Press Herald - Sept 16, 2005
Update posted on Sep 16, 2005 - 8:04PM |
Wesley Branch, dog fighting � pleaded not guilty; status conference August 1; trial Sept. 12
Chris Coleman, dog fighting � pleaded not guilty; status conference August 1; trial Sept. 12 | Source: Minden Press-Herald - June 22, 2005
Update posted on Jun 23, 2005 - 2:47PM |
| Jeremy Rice, dog fighting � pleaded not guilty; status conference August 1; trial Sept. 12, 2005 | Source: press-herald.com - June 15, 2005
Update posted on Jun 15, 2005 - 3:23PM |
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