Fighting (dog)
May 17, 2013:
Alphonso Phinizee, Charles Stokes, Rode Jackson, Jomeka Thomas
Oct 31, 2009:
Jamiey Tonino Parker, Kenneth Lamont Smith, Christopher Lamar Jones, Ervin Lee Everett Jr.
Injured Pit Bulls Used For Dog Fighting Rescued In Indian River County
May 17 2013
Three pit bulls and a puppy suspected of being a part of a dog fighting ring have been rescued by Indian River County police.
The dogs were found at a home located at 4565 33rd Avenue in Vero Beach, and had injuries consistent with dog fighting, according to officials.
When police found the dogs, they were tied down with heavy chains, and were in poor health without access to food or water.
Police found the dogs after receiving calls from several anonymous tipsters about a home where neighbors suspected drug deals were going down.
The Indian River County Multi Agency Criminal Enforcement Unit served a warrant for the home in question and when they went in to investigate, they found the two adult pit bulls and puppy. Two of the dogs had to be tranquilized by police after they became dangerously aggressive.
After further investigating the home, police found cocaine and marijuana, and seized more than $900 in cash.
Police arrested Charles Stokes, 26, Jomeka Thomas, 27, Rone Jackson, 35, and Alphonso Phinizee, 37.
Stokes was charged with possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute and destruction of evidence.
Phinizee was charged with animal cruelty, unlawful confinement/abandonment of a dog and possession of marijuana under 20 grams.
The dogs were rescued and handed over to the local Humane Society where they were treated for their injuries and ill-health.
Dog fighting in Florida is considered a 3rd degree felony, and carries a maximum of five years in prison, and a $5,000 fine for fighting dogs, being a spectator of dog fighting, or owning a dog trained specifically for dog fighting.
More pit bulls, drugs found at Gifford home; 4 arrested
May 17, 2013
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — For the second time this week, Indian River County Sheriff’s Office drug investigators have found pit bulls in poor health in Gifford — this time with wounds indicating they might have been used in illegal dog fighting, sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Thom Raulen said.
On Thursday, deputies discovered four dogs, creating a total of 16 — mostly puppies — county officials have removed from two different homes.
However, the prior 12 didn’t show any signs of fighting and Raulen said they aren’t connected to the latest seizure, despite being found at a location three blocks from the first home.
There “aren’t indications that anything more widespread (in dog fighting) is going on,” he said.
When found Thursday, the four dogs “were restrained with heavy chains and did not have access to food or water,” according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Some were so aggressive they had to be sedated.
Officials took three pit bulls and one puppy from a home in the 4500 block of 33rd Avenue during an investigation that ended in the arrest of four people and the confiscation of drugs, according to the sheriff’s office.
Sheriff’s officials found 205 grams of marijuana and 28 grams of cocaine.
Deputies charged Alphonso Phinizee, 37, with animal cruelty, unlawful confinement of a dog and possession of marijuana. He is in the Indian River County Jail in lieu of a $8,000 bail.
Charles Stokes, 26, was jailed under a $32,500 bail on charges of possession of cocaine and marijuana with intent to distribute.
The Sheriff’s Office charged Rode Jackson, 35, and Jomeka Thomas, 27, with marijuana possession.
The investigation stemmed from people complaining about drug dealing in that area.
On Tuesday, deputies went to a home several blocks away and found 12 poorly nourished pit bulls, Raulen said.
Indian River County Animal Control removed the dogs — eight puppies and four adult dogs — from the home in the 3800 block of 44th Place. The home wasn’t occupied when investigators went in. No arrests have been made.
From the home, deputies took 15 grams of crack cocaine, a gram of powder cocaine, 429 grams of marijuana, 56 ecstasy pills and 11 grams of methylene from the home, sheriff’s officials said.
Drug bust in Gifford results in rescue of malnourished pit bulls
May 15, 2013
GIFFORD — A raid on a Gifford home found drugs, weapons, and more than a dozen abused dogs, according to a press release by the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.
Members of the Indian River County Multi Agency Criminal Enforcement (MACE) Unit along with the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team served a search warrant at 3810 44th Place Tuesday.
The search warrant was expected to be the conclusion of a drug investigation that had spanned several weeks. However, investigators discovered eight puppies and four adult dogs in and around the home.
The pit bulls appeared to be malnourished and infested with fleas. At least one of the dogs had some minor cuts and abrasions but investigators and animal control officials have not indicated if the injuries were related to the illegal practice of dog fighting, according to the release.
According to authorities, MACE detectives were led to the home by an anonymous tip that indicated cocaine and possibly other illegal drugs were being sold out of the residence. Several undercover operations led to the probable cause necessary to serve Tuesday's search warrant.
During a search of the home’s interior, investigators found nine bags of crack cocaine with a total weight of 15 grams, one gram of powder cocaine, 56 MDMA pills, 11 grams of methylone a.k.a "Molly,” approximately 429 grams of marijuana, multiple items of drug paraphernalia including a scales and needles, as well as a 9mm handgun and ammunition according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The home was unoccupied at the time but arrest warrants for the primary suspect will be forthcoming. MACE detectives noted there are still aspects of the drug investigation that are active and the suspect’s name is not being released at this time.
Indian River County Animal Control officers were called to the scene and removed the dogs from the yard. An investigation into animal abuse charges will be forthcoming, according to authorities.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the MACE Unit at 772-978-1217. Those wishing to remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward up to $1,000, can provide information through Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-800-273-8477 or www.tcwatch.org.
Saturday, Oct 31, 2009
County: Indian River
Disposition: Alleged
Four men were arrested after Indian River County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of dog fighting taking place in the 3000 block of 44th Road Saturday.
Several dogs also were picked up from that location.
Arrested Saturday morning on charges of fighting or baiting animals were Christopher L. Jones, 30, of the 4400 block of 34th Avenue; Jamiey T. Parker, 31; 3600 block of 44th Road; and Kenneth L. Smith, 31, of the 4600 block of 56th Avenue; and Ervin L. Everett, 21, of Orlando. Parker also faces a misdemeanor charge of trespassing.
Gifford Dog Fighting Bust
Florida (5 photos) For the second time this week, Indian River County Sheriff’s Office drug investigators have found pit bulls in poor health in Gifford — this time with wounds indicating they might have been used in illegal dog fighting.
Officials took three pit bulls and one puppy from a home in the 4500 block of 33rd Avenue during an investigation that ended in the arrest of four people and the confiscation of drugs, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies at the scene reported that two brown pit bulls were fighting each other in a circle and two men - identified as Kenneth Lamont Smith, 31, and Ervin Lee Everett Jr., 21, - were holding the dogs leashes to keep the dogs on each other, according to the men's arrest reports.
All four men face charges of felony fighting/baiting animals, according to their arrest reports.
- Jamiey Tonino Parker, of 3610 44th Rd., Gifford, has been released from the county jail on $5,000 bond.
- Ervin Lee Everett Jr., of Orlando, was released from jail on $5,500 bond. He faces an additional charge of resisting arrest without violence.
- Kenneth Lamont Smith, of 4625 56th Ave., Gifford, is being held at the county jail on $5,500. He, too, faces a charge of resisting arrest without violence.
- Christopher Lamar Jones, of 4410 31st Ave., Gifford,
