Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies busted up a cockfight on Nov. 27 at a farm just east of Santa Maria, in response to an anonymous tip to the Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies, along with officers from the Santa Maria Police Department and California Highway Patrol, arrived at an in-progress cockfight at approximately 10:45 a.m., according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office. Officers apprehended and cited 11 of the 40 to 50 people involved for being spectators at a cockfight and for resisting or delaying a peace officer. The rest of the crowd scattered and attempted to flee the scene.
After searching the property, deputies found six dead roosters, 15 to 20 live roosters in cages, and two injured roosters that were involved in the cockfight that was active when officers arrived. County Animal Services responded and took all the animals into possession and will euthanize the injured birds.
The ongoing investigation revealed that the Nov. 27 cockfight was part of a tournament and had attracted participants from Los Angeles County up to San Luis Obispo County. Some bets had reached $12,000, according to the news release.
Sheriff’s Office Rural Crimes Detective John McCarthy said in the news release that he was thankful to the tipster for their help.
“Because of this anonymous tip, we were able to stop this horrific cruelty to animals and apprehend some of those responsible,” McCarthy said in the release.
This article appears in Dec 1-8, 2016.
