Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Dog-fighting

Dog-fighting
Pontiac, MI (US)

Incident Date: Monday, Jul 24, 2006
County: Oakland
Local Map: available
Disposition: Convicted

Abuser/Suspect: Keith O. Jackson, Sr.

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

Case ID: 9435

Classification: Fighting

Animal: dog (pit-bull)

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Fifteen people were arrested for dog fighting after police were called to a Summit Street garage early July 24.

Someone called police after seeing people sneaking into a garage at a home on the 100 block of Summit Street about 3:45 a.m., said Sgt. William Ware of the Pontiac Police Department.

"After the officers got there, the dogs would not stop fighting," Ware said.

Two of the dogs had to be put down, he said. Exactly what breed the dogs were or how many of them were in the garage is unknown.

Ware said charges will be pursued against the 15 people arrested - which includes five juveniles - in coming days. The charges could be for dog fighting or cruelty to animals, both felonies, Ware said.

The practice of dog fighting is prevalent in the city even though it is illegal. It is part of an underground culture and is notoriously difficult to track.

There are very few arrests or prosecutions for dog fighting because fights typically take place in the early morning hours in pits set up in basements, garages or abandoned houses.

Ware said gambling is involved in many of the fights. He could not comment on whether there was gambling at Monday's fight. Also, drug dealers have been known to frequent fights.

Nancy Gunnigle of the Michigan Humane Society said: "Dog fighting is almost always associated with other crimes. No one wants it in their community. It should be taken seriously."

Gunnigle said her office investigates 4,000 animal cruelty cases a year, with about 125 of those cases involving dog fighting.

Case Updates

Attending a dog-fight in Pontiac has landed a man in jail for at least 2 years. Keith O. Jackson asked for leniency from Judge Steven N. Andrews during his sentencing hearing, hoping for a sentence of time served. But the judge, citing Jackson's felony record and the public's desire to end dog-fighting, rejected that.

Defense attorney J. Daniel Shanahan asked for time serves, citing the fact that the other half-dozen men arrested at the dog-fight had all received a month or two in jail. Two juveniles were also arrested, one of which was Jackson's son, which the judge noted in his sentence.

Assistant Oakland County procesutor said the sentence was fair, since Jackson had the longest rap sheet. The judge said Jackson's prior convictions included three felonies, including armed robbery and escape, as well as 28 misdemeanor, about a dozen of which involved domestic violence.

Jackson must serve two of the possible 8 years before he is eligible for parole. He has 107 days jail credit, as he has been in jail since he was arrested.

During the one-day trial, Jackson claimed he was only at the dog-fight to claim his son and his girlfriend's son, both of whom had snuck out of the house. But the jury didn't buy it.

After the Pontiac police raided the abandoned garage, two bloodied female pit bulls, still fighting each other, were shot to death.

Source: The Oakland Press- Nov 9, 2006
Update posted on Nov 13, 2006 - 9:44PM

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A Pontiac man was convicted Tuesday of attending a dogfight, as a jury rejected his claim of being there only to retrieve two teenagers who had sneaked out of his home.

Keith O. Jackson Sr., 37, will be sentenced by Oakland County Circuit Judge Steven N. Andrews on Nov. 7 on one felony charge of attending a dogfight and a misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Guidelines indicate he faces a minimum sentence of probation up to 17 months in prison with a maximum eight years in prison.

The jury did not convict Jackson of organizing the dogfight. A fellow attendee, who has pleaded to charges of attending the dogfight, testified that Jackson brought two of his dogs to the abandoned garage on the 100 block of Summit in Pontiac on July 24, when police arrested seven adults and four minors for being at the fight.

While defense attorney James Daniel Shanahan declined to comment, Assistant Oakland County Prosecutor Ken Frazee said he was pleased with the verdict.

RThe jury held him responsible for being a party to this most despicable act,S Frazee said. RWe're just grateful that he's going to be held accountable.S

The dogfight was broken up at about 3:30 a.m., when Jackson opened the garage.

Jackson told the jury he had gone in only to retrieve his son and his girlfriend's son. While Jackson was at the door, the two teenagers were in the back of the garage, police testimony revealed.

Crack cocaine was found in the garage, but charges were not filed as ownership could not be proved.

After officers ordered everyone in the garage to lie down, one of the dogs sat between Jackson and another man, leaving blood on Jackson's clothing. Frazee argued that proved Jackson had brought one of the dogs.

After that, the bloodied dogs resumed the fight in the yard.

Pontiac police Officer Michael Paramo testified that he had to shoot each dog as they continued to maul one another in the back yard. Jurors saw a photograph of their bloody and torn bodies next to one another near a bloodstained outer wall.

They were both bloody,S Paramo said. ROne dog was on her back, and her throat was mangled and mauled.S

He said he shot each dog in the head, yet they continued fighting.

A second shot finished them off. He said the dogs were carried out by Jackson.

Source: The Oakland Press- Oct 18, 2006
Update posted on Nov 13, 2006 - 9:14PM

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References

	ClickOnDetroit - July 25, 2006
	WOOD - July 25, 2006
	The Oakland Press - July 25, 2006

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Dog-fightingPontiac, MI (US)

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Dog-fighting
Pontiac, MI (US)