Investigators arrested 26 people and seized dozens of roosters, both alive and dead, while dismantling an alleged cockfighting operation at a Hesperia business over the weekend, officials said.
The bust took place shortly before noon on Sunday, Oct. 26, in the 17100 block of Darwin Avenue, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
Deputies first responded to an “unknown problem” at the business when they notices several people running from the building upon their arrival, sheriff’s officials said.
“Deputies searched inside the business for additional subjects and found an active cock fight,” according to a sheriff’s department statement. Deputies assigned to the Sheriff’s Rural Crimes Task Force then took over the investigation and obtained a search warrant for the building and nearby vehicles.
“During the search, investigators located a cock fighting ring, 56 live roosters housed individually, 24 deceased roosters, score cards, gaffs, five firearms and food catering,” the statement said.
Deputies arrested 26 people and seized about $28,000 in cash, officials said. The suspects were from San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Diego counties.
Hesperia Animal Control officials were called to assist with the rescued animals.
“Although cock fighting is legal in other countries, it is not legal in the United States,” the sheriff’s department statement said. “The Rural Crimes Team takes these investigations very seriously and will investigate them to the fullest and suspects will be arrested.”
Anyone with information was asked to contact the Lucerne Valley Sheriff’s Sub-Station at (760) 248-7328. Information may also be provided anonymously to the We-Tip hotline at (800) 782-7463.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: 26 arrested, dozens of live and dead roosters seized, during cockfighting bust in Hesperia
Reporting by Brian Day, Victorville Daily Press / Victorville Daily Press
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