Florida: 231 roosters found at Apopka home were being prepped for cockfighting, cops say

FLORIDA -- Authorities found more than 200 roosters at an Apopka home Thursday after calls about a suspected cockfighting ring, and two men will face charges.

Officers said they didn't find any proof that cockfighting was happening at the home on South Apopka Boulevard, but the birds were being prepped for fighting elsewhere, Apopka police Sgt. Kimberly Walsh said.

All of the 231 roosters were in "good shape" and uninjured, Walsh said.

Apopka Police said Jose Antonio Perez-Sanchez, 69, and 50-year-old Edy Domingo Dejesus Ramos face charges of selling or possessing an animal to fight or bait and selling or possessing equipping for animal fighting.

Police said they found makeshift cages and fences for the birds and said the residents were separating the animals and trimming their feathers and combs, the bright red skin on top of their heads.

Walsh said those are common ways to prepare birds for cockfighting.

When questioned, the suspects told police no cockfighting was done on the property because it is illegal but said the animals were raised, prepped and shipped to places outside Florida for fighting, Walsh said.

Authorities are trying to learn where the birds were being shipped.

"Unfortunately, offenders believe that the act of preparing or training an animal to fight is not a crime," Apopka police Chief Michael McKinley said, adding police are continuing to investigate "allegations of abuse."

ARREST INFO:

Full Name: Edy Domingo de j Ramos-toribio (aka Edy Domingo Dejesus Ramos,
Edy Ramos, Eddie Ramos)
Gender: Male
Block: 400 Spanish Trace Dr
City: Altamonte Springs, Florida 32714
Date: 01/19/2017
Arresting Agency: APOPKA Police Department
County: Orange County, Florida
Charges:
#1 FIGHTING AND BAITING ANIMALS
STATUTE: 828.122(3) (THIRD DEGREE FELONY)

#2 POSS EQUIPMENT / VIOLATION OF FIGHTING ACT
STATUTE: 828.122(3)(B) (THIRD DEGREE FELONY)

Full Name: Jose Antonio Perez Sanchez (aka Jose Sanchez, Jose Perez Sanchez)
Gender: Male
Block: 7600 Forest City Rd
City: Orlando, Florida 32810
Date: 01/19/2017
Arrest Age: 69
Arresting Agency: APOPKA Police Department
County: Orange County, Florida
Charges:
#1 FIGHTING AND BAITING ANIMALS
STATUTE: 828.122(3) (THIRD DEGREE FELONY)

#2 POSS EQUIPMENT / VIOLATION OF FIGHTING ACT
STATUTE: 828.122(3)(B) (THIRD DEGREE FELONY)

(Orlando Sentinel - Jan 20, 2017)