Monday, January 16, 2017

Alabama: 23 nabbed in south Alabama animal cruelty, dog fighting raid

ALABAMA -- Washington County Sheriff Richard Stringer says his deputies arrested more than twenty people in a major dog fight raid Saturday night.

 

It happened around 9:00 p.m.

"This is nothing but a money-making event. Reminds me of someone who would take a child and prostitute them to make money. They are taking these dogs to fight them to make money. 


"They are definitely not dog lovers. We will not tolerate cruelty to animals," said Sheriff Stringer.

Four pit bulls were rescued, several others ran away during the arrest.

Six guns and up to $7,000 in cash was confiscated from the scene. Forty-one vehicles, marijuana, prescription drugs and cell phones were also confiscated.

There were also tools found that were used in the dog fight, such as chains.

 
 

Those charged in Washington County include:


Derick Jones
Darryl Berry
Kelvin Walker
Latrell Gray
Chastiey Turner (also charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession)
Chantaria Kirby
Smith Parnell
Kenneth Bell
Demarcus Moody
Timothy Finch
Shaeinka Kirby
Jessica Leverette
Charles Wiley
Brian Johnson
Sharon Tatum
Ana Spotts
Thelma Kirby
Rolanda Kirby
Kenyora Todd
Kaprianna Walker
Maranda Fenton
Sharon Berry
Kemma Kirby

 

Authorities say they have been investigating this crime for several months, but a tipster told them that the fight would be happening last night.

The dog fighting took place in a clearing behind an abandoned home on Highway 45, about a mile east of the Mississippi State Line. The dog fighting pit was surrounded by trees and very organized, according to police.


We're told that 10 officers arrived to a chaotic scene with over 50 people at the dog fight.

People started scattering when deputies arrived and they were able to make 23 arrests, however some people got away. More arrests are expected to be made.


"There was a good group of people there. They started running all over the place and into the woods. We had to just grab whomever we could," said Chief Deputy DeShone Holloway, Washington County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators say it was a very organized ring with portable dog fighting pit.


"They had it to where they could break it down and fold it up, load it in a vehicle, and move it from area to area - where they would want to fight the dogs," said Deputy Bobby Jeter, Washington County Sheriff's Office.


Investigators say there were people from Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana and Texas at the fight. 

The sheriff says this was a huge money maker because they were "championship fighting dogs" in a crime that includes the possible death or injury to the animal and illegal gambling where thousands of dollars are bet on the outcome of the vicious fight.


"We were told this was supposed to be a championship fight. We believe we got here just in time. At this point, the dogs are not in terrible shape. They are scratched up a little bit, but after an hour [of being forced to fight] one of them is usually carried out if not possibly dead -- because either one gives up or dies is how they lose," said Deputy Brad Warrick, Washington County Sheriff's Office.

And the 'losers' are typically killed in brutal ways - strangled, hanged, electrocuted, have their throats slit, or simply thrown into the back of a pickup truck to slowly die of their injuries and then have their bodies dumped.



The dogs are being held by the sheriff's office at an undisclosed location.

Note: Washington County is just north of Mobile, Alabama on the border line between Alabama and Mississippi.


(AL.COM - Jan 15, 2017)

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