Post by RealPitBull on Mar 6, 2008 8:20:05 GMT -5
(There is video if you follow the link.)
wcbstv.com/local/drug.raid.dogfighting.2.670236.html
17 Pit Bulls, 2 Dead, Found During NY Drug Raid
Cocaine, Money & Full-Fledged Dog Fighting Ring Discovered In Home
Reporting
John Slattery YONKERS, N.Y. (CBS) ¯ An overnight police raid in Yonkers meant to uncover drugs and possible weapons ended up discovering much more than that. Police claim that in addition to cocaine, they found a full-fledged pit bull fighting operation.
The discovery of the 15 pit bulls in Yonkers came during a Tuesday night raid by narcotics police, said police spokeswoman Lt. Diane Hessler. Besides 6 ounces of cocaine, drug packaging and nearly $16,000 in cash, the police found a 3-foot-high Plexiglas fighting enclosure, treadmills for dogs, chains, a whip and syringes used on the dogs, officials said.
They also heard dogs in a garage, obtained a search warrant and called in the SPCA, Ross said. He said the garage was filthy with excrement, no food or water was available to the 15 dogs and some were scarred and emaciated.
"It's our feeling that they stage contests with other dogs from other parts of the area," said Edmund Hartnett, chief of Yonkers police.
Police arrested 25-year-old Peter Byrne and 27-year-old Anthony Gonzalez of Yonkers. Authorities say the dogs were found emaciated and dehydrated.
"There was no water, no food…they were living in feces," said Ross.
Neighbors who spoke with CBS 2 made it clear they had no idea or suspicion of the criminal activity.
"I know he had one dog. I didn't know he had a lot of dogs there," said an unidentified woman neighbor.
"It does strike me as strange to find this kind of activity here, really," said another resident.
So far, the two suspects are facing drug possession charges. They could also face charges of animal cruelty.
Police also found two trash bags with the decomposed bodies of dogs in Riverdale. Ross said it was not clear if the dead dogs were connected to the Yonkers find.
"The scarring indicates…fighting and training, pitting one against another to see how game they are," said Ross.
Wednesday's developments come two months after two crippled pit bulls, bloodied from dog fighting, were found in a trash bin at a Yonkers gas station. One of those dogs died. Despite the offer of rewards, no arrests have been made in that case.
Over the past year, there have been several signs of dogfighting in the urban areas of lower Westchester, just north of New York City. Last summer, five Rottweilers and a pit bull were rescued in Mount Vernon, not long after an injured pit bull was found lying in its own blood in the street. Also in Mount Vernon, 63 kittens were found in boxes on the doorstep of an animal shelter, likely saved from use as dogfighting bait. In October, six scarred dogs were found in a Yonkers garage.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
wcbstv.com/local/drug.raid.dogfighting.2.670236.html
17 Pit Bulls, 2 Dead, Found During NY Drug Raid
Cocaine, Money & Full-Fledged Dog Fighting Ring Discovered In Home
Reporting
John Slattery YONKERS, N.Y. (CBS) ¯ An overnight police raid in Yonkers meant to uncover drugs and possible weapons ended up discovering much more than that. Police claim that in addition to cocaine, they found a full-fledged pit bull fighting operation.
The discovery of the 15 pit bulls in Yonkers came during a Tuesday night raid by narcotics police, said police spokeswoman Lt. Diane Hessler. Besides 6 ounces of cocaine, drug packaging and nearly $16,000 in cash, the police found a 3-foot-high Plexiglas fighting enclosure, treadmills for dogs, chains, a whip and syringes used on the dogs, officials said.
They also heard dogs in a garage, obtained a search warrant and called in the SPCA, Ross said. He said the garage was filthy with excrement, no food or water was available to the 15 dogs and some were scarred and emaciated.
"It's our feeling that they stage contests with other dogs from other parts of the area," said Edmund Hartnett, chief of Yonkers police.
Police arrested 25-year-old Peter Byrne and 27-year-old Anthony Gonzalez of Yonkers. Authorities say the dogs were found emaciated and dehydrated.
"There was no water, no food…they were living in feces," said Ross.
Neighbors who spoke with CBS 2 made it clear they had no idea or suspicion of the criminal activity.
"I know he had one dog. I didn't know he had a lot of dogs there," said an unidentified woman neighbor.
"It does strike me as strange to find this kind of activity here, really," said another resident.
So far, the two suspects are facing drug possession charges. They could also face charges of animal cruelty.
Police also found two trash bags with the decomposed bodies of dogs in Riverdale. Ross said it was not clear if the dead dogs were connected to the Yonkers find.
"The scarring indicates…fighting and training, pitting one against another to see how game they are," said Ross.
Wednesday's developments come two months after two crippled pit bulls, bloodied from dog fighting, were found in a trash bin at a Yonkers gas station. One of those dogs died. Despite the offer of rewards, no arrests have been made in that case.
Over the past year, there have been several signs of dogfighting in the urban areas of lower Westchester, just north of New York City. Last summer, five Rottweilers and a pit bull were rescued in Mount Vernon, not long after an injured pit bull was found lying in its own blood in the street. Also in Mount Vernon, 63 kittens were found in boxes on the doorstep of an animal shelter, likely saved from use as dogfighting bait. In October, six scarred dogs were found in a Yonkers garage.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
I look forward to learning much here