Cockfighting Raid in East Texas Prompts 300 Spectators to Flee into the Woods
Around 300 individuals who had gathered to witness and bet on unlawful cockfighting competitions in rural east Texas suddenly ran into the woods as law enforcement officers arrived to interrupt the event. This information was shared in a Facebook post by the San Jacinto County Sheriff's Office.
Twenty-six out of those present were caught by a patrol sergeant and two patrol deputies who showed up at the scene on October 15th. This came after they received a report about animal abuse happening at a site in San Jacinto County.
About a hundred abandoned vehicles were left behind by those who fled, resulting in the impounding of 75 vehicles. Forty-three of these are currently being considered for confiscation, the Sheriff's Office announced.
Ninety-six live gamecocks were saved from various vehicles, cages, and transport boxes spread across the property. Dozens of lifeless roosters were also discovered in the area.
The cockpit was described as "a large, wooden, permanent structure with a round wooden battling arena, temporary wooden bleachers, lawn chair seating, and a functioning kitchen/concession stand, all sheltered under the overall structure."
Cockfighting events typically involve audience members wagering money on birds that then fight until one of them dies. This is usually done with small hooked razors, referred to as 'gaffs' or 'slashers,' attached to their talons. These tools allow the birds to slice, hack, and puncture their adversaries.
Investigators discovered plenty of gaffs at the venue, along with vitamins, steroids, and other medicines designed to boost a rooster's metabolism to make them harder to defeat.
Deputies also retrieved various objects associated with gambling, including a whiteboard indicating there had been 44 bouts that day.
In Texas, it is considered a felony to have birds fight each other and to use the property for cockfighting. This could lead to a two-year sentence in a state prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Meanwhile, it's a class A misdemeanor to possess, manufacture, or sell cockfighting equipment, or to train a rooster with the aim of using it for fighting. Simply watching a cockfight is classed as a Class C misdemeanor in Texas.
Cockfighting is illegal in all U.S. states, but it is socially accepted and lawful in most parts of South America. It is therefore popular but not limited to South American immigrant communities in the United States.
Police seized over $22,000 from the nineteen arrestees, and five loaded semi-automatic pistols were taken from vehicles with cockfighting paraphernalia present.
"The individuals with the larger sums of money were found to be the registered owners of the vehicles that were seized, which also contained cockfighting equipment," San Jacinto County Sheriff, Greg Capers, revealed.
Capers further noted that the investigation was ongoing and that animal abuse would not be condoned in San Jacinto County.
Read also:
- Remaining contenders down to two in DFB's struggle versus Brazil.
- Law enforcement agencies in various metropolises plan expansive measures for May 1.
- Berlin Transport Senator Schreiner Steps Down over Doctorate Issues
- The Next Development in the DAZN/DFL Billion Euro Controversy
Source: www.casino.org
