Floral City noise complaint leads to seven arrests for cockfighting
Photos courtesy of CCSO.
Citrus County, Florida - About 12:27 pm on Saturday afternoon, July 30, 2022, deputies with the Citrus County Sheriff's Office responded to a residence located at 12599 S. Florida Avenue in Floral City due to a noise complaint and immediately noticed that the property was being utilized as a cockfighting venue.
Deputies spoke with the homeowner, Jose Hernandez, and also detained six other people, due to the criminal activity taking place on the property. Detectives with the agency's Community Crimes Unit also responded to the scene, along with Citrus County Animal Control officers.
During the investigation, it was determined that people had traveled fo the location from all over the state with the intention of participating in the fighting of roosters. The property was set up with an arena, along with numerous cages and holding pens, scales and timers, and a scoreboard to showcase the bets placed on the fighting roosters. Behind the area were several freshly dug holes that contained deceased roosters with artificial fighting spurs still affixed to their legs.
Animal Control Officers seized over 60 roosters, along with other animals located on the property that were in distress due to the lack of proper care. Detectives also seized the fighting equipment, along with approximately $5,200 in cash that had been used for placing bets on the fighting roosters.
ARRESTS:
• Homeowner Jose Joaquin Hernandez, 58, was placed under arrest, charged in accordance with Florida Statute 828.122 (3)(d): fighting or baiting animals and promoting, staging, advertising, or charging any admission fee to a fight or baiting between two or more animals, with his bond set at $5,000.
The following people were also arrested, charged in accordance with Florida Statute 828.122 (3)(h): fighting or baiting animals and/or attending the fighting or baiting of animals, with their bonds each set at $5,000:
• Carlos Rodriguez Cortes, 72, of Orlando, FL
• Ramon Luis Castro, 79, of Hudson, FL
• Rafael Rosado Lopez, 60, of Hudson, FL
• Pedro Antinio Gutierrez, 65, of Kissimmee, FL
• Elias Junior Domenech, 24, of Orlando, FL
• Melbin Yamil Mojica-Torres, 42, of Orlando, FL.
"This was not your average noise complaint on a Saturday afternoon," said Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast. "Instead of CCSO deputies discovering a possible party with loud music, they found plain evidence of this organized criminal activity. Thank you to our citizens who contact us to investigate these types of nuisances because you are the eyes and ears helping us put criminals behind bars."
"In this age of technology, it baffles and disgusts me that individuals will still seek out to harm animals for their pure entertainment," said Animal Control Unit Supervisor Lora Peckham. "I am extremely grateful to my team and the outstanding staff at Citrus County Animal Shelter for saving these helpless animals, working well into the midnight hours."
"Cockfighting is an illegal, gruesome sport with no place in our community," said Animal Services Director Colleen Yarbrough. "Citrus County Animal Services staff will be collecting veterinary forensic evidence and providing care for the victims. We urge citizens to speak up about animal cruelty; if you see something, say something."