Local, state and Federal authorities raided two suspected cockfighting breeders Saturday night in Marshall and Elkhart Counties. Law enforcement officers from a multitude of agencies were involved in serving two search warrants at 8:00 p.m. Saturday night. Both warrants were served simultaneously at a home located at 6244 Plymouth-Goshen Trail in Bremen and 21852 State Line Road in Bristol.
The two locations came under police suspicion after they received an anonymous tip that gamecocks were being raised for use in cockfighting events. The investigation, which lasted several weeks, culminated in the arrest of three individuals and the discovery of more than 200 birds.
40 year old Juan Cristobal Gonzalez was arrested in Bremen while two men were arrested in Bristol, Victorino Rosales-Alcaraz, 48 and Dario Marin-Alvarez, 32. All three will face charges of possession of animals used for fighting which is a Level 6 felony. They will also be charged with possession of animal fighting paraphernalia with prior convictions, an A misdemeanor offense.
Cockfighting is banned in all 50 states yet it remains a multi-billion dollar industry world-wide, commented Indiana State Police Sgt. Trent Smith. A typical cockfight can last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes and usually results in the death of one or both birds.
The care of the birds was turned over to the Indiana State Board of Animal Health and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
Agencies involved in the raid included the Bremen Police Department, Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, Marshall County Prosecutor’s Office, Marshall County Drug Task Force, Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department, Elkhart County Prosecutor’s Office, Indiana State Police, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Indiana Gaming Commission, Indiana State Board of Animal Health, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
*All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
