Three pit bulls are recovering at the Rock Island County Animal Shelter after police say they were used in dog fights.
Police say the dogs were fighting in the basement of a Coal Valley home. They found pools of blood on the floor and stains smeared on the walls. They say there were actually children home at the time.
23-year-old Micheal Reese and 34-year-old Roosevelt Knight, Jr. were arrested. Police say they own the dogs. They found the men gathered in the basement with three others - one was dressed in a plastic jumpsuit.
"He had blood on his legs and arms, possibly acting as a referee between the fights," said Sgt. Mitch Lee of the Rock Island County Sheriff's Department.
An anonymous caller pointed officers in the right direction - several neighbors had no clue.
"We heard dogs barking, but I knew nothing of anything going on out there," said neighbor Ron Pitra.
Police didn't witness any of the fights - but say the aftermath was obvious.
"This is one of our first in Rock Island County where we could make arrests following dog fighting based on injuries to the dogs," said Sgt. Lee.
He says the reason arrests are difficult is because the fights are usually behind closed doors. Unless the owners try to get the dogs back, all 3 will become property of the county and eventually have to be put to sleep. Neighborhood MapFor more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.
Back to Top References | WQAD - March 14, 2006 |
« Back to Search Results
|
