Cockfight in San Gabriel Valley Busted in the Act: Dead Roosters Found, Three Men Arrested For Watching Bout
A major cockfight was broken up over the weekend in the San Gabriel Valley community of Valinda (near West Covina). Authorities said they found several dead roosters.
LASD Cockfighting accessories.
What impressed us about this particular avian bout was that it was allegedly happening in the morning on Saturday. After receiving a complaint about the "pained sounds of roosters fighting," L.A. County sheriff's deputies got there about 10:20 a.m., according to a sheriff's statement.
What did they see?
About forty people -- allegedly cockfight organizers and spectators -- who scattered. Three were nabbed, however, and arrested for "being present during a cockfight," which sheriff's officials say is illegal.
(Really? Is that constitutional? What if a reporter was there?).
Anyway, Frank Hernandez, 67-year old from Rancho Cucamonga, Gamiz Concepcion, a 64-year-old from Pomona, Eduardo Chaves, a 63-year-old from La Puente, were cited and released.
And on a hangover day, too.
The fight was discovered at a home in the 15800 block of Fairgrove Ave., deputies said.
Authorities said they found 50 roosters, a "cockfighting arena" covered by tarps, and "several" dead birds that had been "groomed for fighting."
Also found, according to the sheriff's statement:
... Kits of razor-sharp metal talons that cockfighters tie to the roosters' feet to make the fight more deadly; tie materials (string, rubber bands, moleskin padding), and misc. tools like scissors, small saws, and sandpaper.
Authorities warned that organizers could face 3 years for animal cruelty if they're caught and convicted. And, yes, they're still looking for them.
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