MONDAY, Feb. 23, 2015 – County animal control officers busted up two separate illegal cockfighting operations during the weekend.
At one of the properties officers also discovered a stash of marijuana that filled up three plastic trash bags. By the end of Saturday (Feb. 21), animal control officers had handled more than 200 cockfighting roosters, seized more than 100 illegal fighting blades – and turned over the pot and $188 in cash to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
Both activities happened Saturday and both properties were located in the city of Jurupa Valley. Only a few streets separated the two locations.
Officers were called out first to a property in 6500 block of Lucretia Avenue, south of Limonite Avenue and east of Interstate 15. The call came in at about 10:15 a.m. Saturday (Feb. 21). Officers discovered more than 100 birds at this property, including seven birds that were already dead when they arrived. One bird was injured, suffering from wounds caused, presumably, by a fight just prior to the officers’ arrival.
It was at this property the officers, during their routine search, discovered a barrel filled with plastic bags of marijuana and almost $200 in cash. The amount of weed was enough to fill up three trash bags. The money and the pot was turned over to sheriff’s deputies for proper processing. Officers euthanized 139 birds in total and issued four citations, including one to a woman who is suspected of renting her property out to be used for the fights at $40 per entrant.
One spectator was cited and released.
At the second cockfighting bust, officers responded to a call in the 6400 block of Frank Avenue shortly after 2 p.m. The officers impounded and euthanized 65 birds and discovered 10 already dead upon their arrival. One citation was issued to the property owner who was also suspected of renting out his property for illegal cockfights.
It was at this second bust that the officers came across blades not common with the cockfights usually held in Inland Empire areas. These blades were much longer – approximately 4 inches in length – compared to the more traditional blades the officers find in the region. Those blades are usually about only 1 inch in length.
All the participants and spectators fled the property when the officers arrived.
