DELTA, OH (Toledo News Now) - The Fulton County Sheriff's Department has busted a major cockfighting ring in Delta.
Dozens of people have been cited and more suspects are being sought.
The Sheriff's Department says deputies were dispatched to a house on County Road N on a report of shots fired.
When they got there, people scrambled from a small barn fleeing the scene in a desperate panic.
What deputies found in the barn was a cockfighting ring.
Seventy two roosters, all still alive, were seized and taken to an undisclosed location. In addition, $1500.00 in cash was found.
"There were hay bales in a ring type situation in a small barn. The roosters were fighting," said Lt. Max Nofziger of the Sheriff's Department.
Nofziger says 52 people have been charged with aiding and abetting animal fighting.
They were issued a summons to appear in court on May 14th in lieu of arrest.
Some scattered so fast, they left their cars behind.
Tow trucks were brought in to remove the vehicles.
Neighbor Mike Harris says lots of drinking and partying goes on at the house.
He's also heard the cockfighting.
"Their shed faces my backyard. I hear everything over there. Bunch of birds screaming and people yelling," said Mr. Harris.
The Sheriff's Department says the shots fired that brought them to the house didn't come from the cockfighting barn but somewhere else in the area.
Of the more than 50 charged, none have previous animal cruelty convictions. Only three have criminal records.
Fulton County Sheriff Roy Miller says when police arrived, the crowd scattered. People ran off in every direction, some even leaving their cars at the home.
Neighbors say they are shocked.
"They have sheep and they have chickens, but I've never actually seen any cock fights," said Gary Houston.
Police say they also found weapons used in cock fighting at the home.
The animals have been taken to an undisclosed location and are being check out by a veterinarian.
Sheriff Miller says the best way to prevent something like this from happening again is for area residents to pay attention and report anything out of the ordinary.
Here's the full list of people arrested:
Michael A Clary
Vincente Garcia-Lopez
Ramiro Munoz
Pablo Martinez-Gutierrez
Nieto Castillo Candelario
Juan A Magallanes
J Juan Aguilar-Zamarripa
Valentin Cardena Ponce
Ignacio Cruz-Ponce
Rigoberto Loera
Cornelio Esqueda-Palos
Pedro Valiente-Frias
Martin M Rodriguez
Adrian Garcia
Jose M Vargas
Jose G Rendon
Rigaberto
Eduardo Galindo Ramirez
Jesus M Martinez
Jose Moreno
Steve Scott Jr.
Elias D. Martinez
Valentin Pesqueda
Dakota A Scott
Ramayo Marcos Sanchez
Prodigios Rosales
Dario Marin-Alvarez
Herminio Marales
Max Linarez
Alejandro Arias
Juan M. Arias-Rubio
Victorino Rosales
Gustavo Cabrera
Kevin Arias
Lues Garza
Humberto N. Carmona
Eloy N. Carmona
Juan M. Arias-Morales
Raul Silva
Rual Hernandez-Baez
Roberto J. Martinez
Juan Garcia
Esteban Martinez
Mario Lopez
Martin C. Luna
Jorge D. Santos
Victor A. Murillo-Gonzalez
Fermin Murillo-Gonzalez
Arturo D. Davila
J. Jesus Munoz
Luis Maldonado
Adan Ramizer-Martinez
Anyone with information is asked to call Fulton County Sheriff's Office.
