A man was arrested and hundreds of game fowl are being euthanized after a large cockfighting ring was discovered in Miami, authorities said.
Sandor Nieves, 38, was arrested Thursday on charges of owning or possessing an animal used for fighting and possession of marijuana with intent to sell, according to a Miami-Dade Police arrest report.
Nieves' bond was set at $10,000 but he was being held on a warrant case Friday, jail records showed. It was unknown if he's hired an attorney.
According to the arrest report, officers executed a search warrant at a home at 6700 Southwest 120th Avenue, where they found Nieves. They also found a number of game fowl and a wire-enclosed cockfighting ring that had a dead rooster hanging from the cage. Baiting paraphernalia including plastic spurs and fighting muffs were also found, along with 462 grams of marijuana in a refrigerator, the report said.
Officials with Miami-Dade Animal Services said more than 240 game fowl had been euthanized and another 250-300 remained on the property. The game fowl require individual housing to prevent them from fighting to the death so the most humane thing to do is euthanize them on site, officials said.
Horses, dogs, cats and a turkey were also found but will not be euthanized, officials said. Animal Services officials said in a statement that it "is troubling and very sad that these innocent animals have had to endure horrific abuse."
Officers searched Nieves' vehicle and found $8,700 in cash and gambling ledgers, the police report said. He acknowledged ownership of the birds and control of the area of the property where he was found, the report said.
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Story courtesy of our news partners at NBCMiami.com.
