Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Twelve people arrested for pit bull dog fighting ring. 367 abused, emaciated dogs rescued, arrests made in Texas, Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi

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8/26/13,Authorities arrest 12, seize 367 pit bulls in multi-state dog fighting crackdown, AP, Montgomery, Alabama, via Fox News

“An investigation into organized dog fighting and gambling in the Southeast resulted in 12 arrests and the seizure of 367 pit bulls in one of the nation’s largest crackdowns on the bloody exhibitions.

Federal, state and local officials announced the arrests Monday. They stemmed from raids Friday on homes in Alabama and Georgia and the seizure of more than $500,000 in cash that investigators believe was tied to illegal gambling on dog fights….

Court-appointed attorneys for some of the defendants said they plan to plead not guilty at an arraignment Wednesday….

Coffee County Sheriff David Sutton said the dogs at one Elba home were covered by fleas and were secured by heavy chains connected to car axles buried in the ground. Officials said some pit bulls were so malnourished their ribs were sticking out and others had bad wounds that required emergency care….

Charged are:

Donnie Anderson, 48, of Auburn;
Demontt Allen, 37, of Houston, Texas;
William Antone Edwards, 42, of Brantley;
William Oneil Edwards, 39, of Elba;
Robin Stinson, 40, of Elba;
Michael Martin, 54, of Auburn;
Lawrence Watford, 35, of Adel, Ga.;
Ricky Van Le, 24, of Biloxi, Miss.;
David Sellers, 52, of Opelika;
Sandy Brown, 47 ,of Brownsville;
Carlton Tippens, age unavailable, of Georgia; and
Irkis Forest, age unavailable, of Theodore.”…




This AP photo of puppies among rescued, from BBC story:

8/26/13, "US agents rescue 360 pitbulls in dog fight raid," BBC

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Comment: I looked at 6 or 7 versions of this story and this one from Fox News (written by AP) was the only one that mentioned the names of the 12 arrested. In the US you are innocent until proven guilty. But in a case this wide ranging and with evidence at minimum of depraved animal cruelty, it’s important to have the names. Other outlets ran the AP story but omitted the names.

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