Cockfighting Bust: Over 600 Chickens Seized In Raid - Yucaipa, California's Shame

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Roosters and hens, living peacefully...

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Yucaipa cockfight breeding facility raided
Wednesday, February 17, 2010

YUCAIPA, Calif. (KABC) -- Acting on a tip from the Humane Society of the U.S., authorities have confiscated hundreds of roosters and hens in San Bernardino County. The raid was conducted just outside the city of Yucaipa. It's believed the poultry was being supplied to Mexico.

Authorities made the seizure Tuesday on the 10000 block of Sprig Avenue in the unincorporated area of Yucaipa.

The few neighbors in a rural Yucaipa neighborhood were awakened Tuesday not by roosters at a sprawling chicken farm, but by officials with search warrants.

"Investigators did believe that the property owners were raising, breeding, training and selling these birds to Mexico, where these birds were made to fight in derbies," said San Bernardino County Sheriff's Spokesperson Jodie Miller.

A copy of a Mexican cockfighting magazine outlined the high entry fees and very high prizes for some of the legal events held in Mexico.

Some of these pictures in Yucaipa released by the Humane Society show the chickens -- more than 600, more than 400 of them roosters -- are well cared for and well fed. Officials say evidence supporting their accusation of breeding and training of game birds was seized.

"There have been no arrests," said Miller. "The deputies went to the location yesterday morning. They did not find anyone at home. The persons involved are believed to be out of the country at this time."

The closest neighbor said he was told the birds were just exotic birds.

"You know, I'm not sure what definitions of exotic birds are," said neighbor William Roberts. "I mean, you can buy llamas that are really expensive. So just because they're exotic chickens, I'm not sure what different kinds of exotic chickens there are."

No arrests have been made. The owners of this operation are in Mexico and a caretaker is caring for the hundreds of birds remaining at the location.

Authorities believe that most of the battle fowl raised and trained here are shipped to Mexico. But dealing with illegal cockfighting is a problem for authorities in the United States.

http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-cockfighting-bust-yucaipa,0,7856790.story

Cockfighting Ring Busted in Yucaipa

KTLA News

10:09 AM PST, February 17, 2010

YUCAIPA -- Sheriff's deputies in San Bernardino County have seized more than 600 birds that authorities believe were being trained for cockfighting.

The 400 roosters and 200 hens were seized Tuesday morning from a property in Yucaipa.

The property owners were not there at the time and are thought to be out of the country, according to investigators.

The birds were likely going to be sold in Mexico to compete in cockfighting derbies, officials said.

Humane Society of the United States law enforcement specialist Eric Sakach says the operation had been written about in a cockfighting magazine.

The Humane Society tipped sheriff's deputies and animal control officers to the alleged activity.

Sheriff Rod Hoops says his Rural Crimes Task Force "will not allow this blood sport to flourish."

Copyright © 2010, KTLA-TV, Los Angeles

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Cockfighting ring discovered in Yucaipa
Stacia Glenn, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/16/2010 08:05:29 PM PST

YUCAIPA - More than 600 roosters and hens were found at a Yucaipa property Tuesday where authorities say they were bred and trained to fight.

No one was arrested and San Bernardino County sheriff's officials declined to say how many people they are looking for in connection with the cockfighting ring.

U.S. Department of Agriculture workers took samples from 30 birds to test for Avian Influenza. Another five fowl were seized as evidence and will be housed by county Animal Control.

The other 200 hens and 400 roosters will remain on the Yucaipa property in the 10000 block of Sprig Avenue.

Officials believe the owners, who were likely selling and transporting some of the birds to Mexico for cockfighting derbies, are out of the country.

The ring was discovered early Tuesday after eight local, state and federal agencies joined together to serve a search warrant. The Humane Society of the United States tipped the Sheriff's Department to the alleged activity three months ago.

A cockfighting magazine reported that the owners of the Yucaipa property were breeding, raising, training, conditioning, fighting and selling the birds, said Eric Sakach, a senior law enforcement specialist with the HSUS.

"We will not allow this bloodsport to flourish in the County of San Bernardino," said Sheriff Rod Hoops.

The case is being forwarded to the District Attorney's Office for review.

Anyone with information is asked to call
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sheriff's Deputy Chris Walkins at 909-387-3700.

Read more: http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_14414400#ixzz0fr6tK5VA

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By Erik Sandoval, KESQ.com Digital Content Director
esandoval@kesq.com

YUCAIPA - A coalition of law enforcement personnel served a search warrant on the 10000 block of Sprig Avenue, and found all the makings of a cock-fighting ring.

Authorities say their investigation started three months before serving the warrant after getting information from the Humane Society of the United States. They claimed the people living at the residence were breeding, raising, training, and conditioning the birds to be "battle fowl."

Investigators believe that the suspects were also selling and transporting birds to Mexico to compete in cockfighting derbies.

No one was at home when officers served the search warrant, and they believe they were out of the country. But on the premises, they found 400 roosters and 200 hens, and evidence they say is consistent with breeding "battle fowl."

"According to published reports in a cockfighting magazine the owners ran an operation encompassing the United States and Mexico," said Eric Sakach, senior law enforcement specialist for The HSUS. "The actions of the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department send a clear message to the community that San Bernardino County takes allegations of cockfighting activities seriously."