April 01--FONTANA -- Police arrested seven people and seized more than 60 living and dead roosters after investigators were tipped off about an illegal cockfighting operation on Saturday.
Police got the tip Saturday morning about a large gathering at a business in the 16300 block of Boyle Avenue, Lt. Jim Escarpe said.
"When we pulled up, people started running everywhere," Escarpe said Saturday evening as the last items of evidence were being taken away.
Officers pursued two fleeing people and arrested them, Escarpe said.
Investigators obtained search warrants for the property after the owner couldn't be located, he said.
Officers found a cockfighting ring, birds, blades known as gaffs that are attached to the birds, and other evidence of illegal gambling, Escarpe said.
Escarpe was uncertain if the seven people arrested were spectators or connected to the cockfighting operation itself but said they were all being booked on suspicion of felony cruelty to animals.
"But this isn't just about the animals, which is a terrible thing," he said, "but this is a quiet neighborhood, and we have people who don't want to have the fallout of illegal activities like this. "
As the lieutenant was speaking, a small boy came out of a home across the street and stood on his porch, illuminated by a porch light, straining to see what was going on.
Investigators
will attempt to reach the owner of the property, which appears to be a construction business, Escarpe said.
Authorities say historically they have seen more incidents of cockfighting in south Fontana because of the larger properties and more rural nature of the area.
Anyone with information on this case can call the Fontana Police Department at 909-350-7700.
Copyright 2013 - Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Calif.
