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Polk Deputies Bust Cockfighting Ring

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By HOWARD ALTMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 17, 2009

While conducting a narcotics investigation last night, Polk County Sheriff's Office investigators discovered a cockfighting ring, according to a media release.

According to the release:

Polk sheriff's detectives assigned to the Bureau of Special Investigations were conducting a narcotics investigations in the area of Earlene Drive of Haines City, when they responded to 333 Earlene Drive. Not only detectives did discover some narcotics in the home, but they also discovered fighting roosters and paraphernalia associated with illegal cockfighting.

Agricultural Crimes deputies and Animal Control Officers were called to the scene, where they confiscated fighting knives and spurs, boxing gloves, and other associated paraphernalia used during illegal cockfights Animal Control removed 24 roosters that had been trained to fight from the scene.

The homeowner, Jorge Hernandez-Martinez, 26, told deputies he owned all of the items and the roosters, and said the last fight he attended was in November, 2008.

Martinez surrendered all of the birds to Animal Control. He has been booked into the Polk County Jail on charges of possession of cannabis with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia, fFighting or baiting animals, and 18 counts of possession of paraphernalia used to fight animals.

He is being held on $20,500 bond.

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