Police arrest dozens in cockfighting raid

Associated Press,

FLORENCE -- Police have arrested about 80 people on cockfighting and animal cruelty charges in Chesterfield County.

Chesterfield County Sheriff Sam Parker said most of those arrested Saturday were from Darlington and Kershaw counties in South Carolina, and from Robeson and Scotland counties in North Carolina.

Parker said the arrests were the result of investigations over the past two years. "We've missed out a couple of times before," he said. "We've been made aware of cockfighting activity in this area, but have been unsuccessful in finding the location until today."

A tip Saturday morning paid off and brought Chesterfield deputies and animal control officers to the McBee site.

Police seized chickens and cockfighting equipment as well as thousands in cash and two pounds of marijuana. They also found evidence of cockfighting, with about 100 chickens at the site, including several that were dead.

"It's very trashy, very nasty and bloody," Parker said of the scene.

Investigators say participants were vying for honors, including a 5-foot trophy inscribed "2005 Cock Fighter of the Year."

Parker said 60 to 80 people were arrested and some fled on foot and are being sought.

The South Carolina House approved legislation this spring that would raise the state's cockfighting penalty from a maximum fine of $100 and 30 days in jail to $1,000 and as much as a year in prison for a first offense. A third conviction could bring a $5,000 fine and five years.

The legislation, now in a Senate committee, also lets police seize property tied to animal fighting.

Animal fighting grew into a big issue during the past year after the state's agriculture commissioner was charged in a federal crackdown on an Aiken cockfighting ring.

In January, Charles Sharpe gave up his office and pleaded guilty to lying to a federal officer and taking a $10,000 bribe to protect a cockfighting ring. He began serving a two-year prison sentence in June.