WEST HAVEN, CT — Police arrested seven men after breaking up a large-scale illegal cockfighting operation with more than 100 spectators gathered inside a building on Front Avenue.
West Haven police officers and members of the Street Crime Unit responded to the 200 block of Front Avenue around 6:50 p.m. on Nov. 22 for a report of illegal cockfighting.
Officers found well over 100 people inside the building gathered around a makeshift wooden cockfighting ring.
Many individuals seated around the ring and bystanders began fleeing when officers entered, but police were able to apprehend seven people.
Inside the makeshift ring, officers found loose feathers, chicken spurs, blood spatter and other evidence.
Officers also encountered dozens of roosters, some running around and others in boxes.
West Haven Animal Control officers responded and seized over 30 live roosters and several dead roosters.
West Haven detectives assumed the investigation and determined the event was a large-scale illegal cockfighting operation with participants from the tri-state area.
Police charged Andrade Catana, 52, of New Windsor, New York; Kelvin Quituizaca-Martinez, 32, of Middletown, New York; Luciano Ramos, 60, of Newburgh, New York; Jesus Ventura-Reyes, 60, of Brooklyn, New York; Jose Jiminez-Ortiz, 62, of New Britain; and Samual Santiago, 49, of Hamden, with cruelty to animals, illegal use of an animal for fighting and interfering with an officer.
Jose Gonzalez, 58, of West Haven, was charged with cruelty to animals and illegal use of an animal for fighting.
All seven individuals were held on bond.
