Thread: 69 people arrested in West Valley cockfight UPDATED

MCSO: Deputies bust largest cockfighting ring in AZ history
Reported by: Deborah Stocks
Email: dstocks@abc15.com
Last Update: 4:07 pm

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TONOPAH, AZ -- Maricopa County Sheriff's deputies said a cockfighting operation broken up by deputies on Saturday was the largest cockfighting sting in Arizona's history.

Sheriff's Deputy Lindsey Smith said the investigation began at the property near Wintersburg and Baseline Roads after they received a report of an organized cockfighting event.

On Saturday, detectives conducted air surveillance and executed a search warrant.

Smith said nearly 70 people were arrested.

Smith said when detectives arrived, an organized cockfight was taking place and numerous roosters were found caged in parked vehicles.

Dozens of people at the scene, including spectators, were taken into custody and taken to a sheriff's facility in southwest Phoenix to be interviewed.

Smith said 69 suspects were booked into the Fourth Avenue Jail for being present at a cockfight. She said it is believed that 20 of those arrested are illegal immigrants.

Drugs, weapons and cash were also reportedly found during the search.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio said there were as many as 14 children in the group, some as young as 2 years old.

"You have gambling involved, you might have guns involved, it's not just roosters," Arpaio said.

Smith said more charges against the suspects are likely as the investigation continues.

http://www.abc15.com/content/news/westv ... x?rss=1730

Originally Posted by sarum

La Raza reputation is like Mafia. Nobody will mess with them.

Like the mafia, La raza's day will come too. The bigger they are, the harder they fall. The mafia yesterday, Acorn today, laraza tomorrow. SI! Se Puede!

Originally Posted by miguelina

Originally Posted by sarum

La Raza reputation is like Mafia. Nobody will mess with them.

Like the mafia, La raza's day will come too. The bigger they are, the harder they fall. The mafia yesterday, Acorn today, laraza tomorrow. SI! Se Puede!

Yes We Can..............

4 people face felony charges in cockfighting bust

by Jolie McCullough and Nathan Gonzalez -
May. 17, 2010 05:51 PM
The Arizona Republic

Two property owners and 20 suspected illegal immigrants were among 69 people arrested during a cockfighting sting near Tonopah, authorities said.

The two property owners, Apolinar Dominguez and Sara Lomas, were expected to be charged with felonies for allowing the fight to occur on their property Saturday, said Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio during a news conference Monday.


Also facing felony charges are the two suspected operators of the event - Jesus Llovera and Lazaro Espinoza - who are also suspected of being in the country illegally, Arpaio said.

Most were arrested on suspicion of being present at a cockfight, which is a Class 1 misdemeanor

Ten minors were also at the event, ranging from 7 months old to 17 years old, he added.

Sheriff's deputies carried out a search warrant at Wintersburg and Baseline roads, near Tonopah, after they discovered an organized cockfighting event.

Deputies recovered a gun, $28,000, a small amount of drugs and 54 roosters during their search of vehicles and the eight-acre area, Arpaio said.

All but two of the roosters were euthanized because of the amount of drugs, such as steroids, that were in their system.

Three vehicles out of 36 that were towed from the scene had been seized as of Monday afternoon. Inside the vehicles were roosters, cages and cockfighting paraphernalia, such as blades that are attached to roosters' legs.

Arpaio said deputies had been investigating the property by helicopter for about a month.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... -abrk.html