Fighting (cock)
Rodriguez, Gregor - Plant City
Enriques, Ramiro - Winter Haven
Holt, Randall Dean - Highland City
Smith, Jamie Elton - Highland City
Valdez, Rudy - Wauchula
Date 12-14-1992
County Polk
Suspect Multiple
Address 5144 First St. S.E., Highland City, FL 33812
Animals seized 7
Animal type roosters
Six men face felony charges for animal fighting and fighting or baiting animals Sunday after Polk County sheriff's deputies raided a yard where cockfights were being held, authorities said.
Undercover deputies responded to 5144 First St. S.E. at 3:30 p.m. after the sheriff's office received a tip from an anonymous caller that gambling and cockfights were taking place there, a sheriff's release said.
At least 50 roosters were tied up in the front yard and there was screaming and yelling in a yard behind a fence, Deputy Larry Carr said.
"No one noticed us at first," Carr said. "Within 30 seconds, one rooster was dead." When another deputy returned from calling for backup assistance, the men figured out what was going on and started running, Carr said.
Although most of the participants were caught, five eluded authorities, Carr said.
The news release said the following were charged and transported to Polk County Jail:
One unidentified man who said he lived at 5144 First St. S.E. faces an animal fighting act charge; Gregor Rodriguez, 35, of 2246 Horton Road in Plant City, Ramiro Enriques, 28, of No. 3 Grove Park Lane in Winter Haven and Randall Dean Holt, 36, of 5144 First. St. S.E. in Highland City all face a fighting or baiting animals charge; Rudy Valdez, 38, of Wauchula faces fighting or baiting animals and resisting arrest without force charges; and Jamie Elton Smith, 30, of 5459 Ninth St. S.E. in Highland City faces fighting or baiting animals and carrying a concealed weapon charges.
Deputies recovered a 6-inch dagger from Smith's coat pocket, according to an arrest report.
Fifteen other men and three juveniles were given misdemeanor charges and scheduled to appear in court for attending the fighting of animals, the release said. Another man was arrested for attending the fights, and because he had no identification he was taken to jail, Carr said.
Six roosters have died as a result of the fights and seven live roosters were recovered by the sheriff's office, spokeswoman Kim Nichols said.
About $3,200 was seized from participants, the release said. The investigation is continuing.
