A Minneapolis man was jailed on suspicion of animal cruelty and fights, and 15 pit bulls were seized from several locations in Minneapolis and one in New Hope during raids on a suspected dogfighting operation on Wednesday.
The arrest provided a rare peek into what officers call an underground illicit sport that can pay one winner $15,000 for one fight — and enact some of the worst animal abuse officers see.
In addition to the dogs, officers also found drugs, two guns and a dogfighting training manual, police said.
“We are here to keep the community safe, and pets safe, hence investigating the dog fighting and all of the crimes involved around dogfighting,” said Sgt. Lindsay Herron, an animal-crimes investigator for the Minneapolis Police Department.
The suspect, 34, was arrested at his workplace Wednesday and was being held in the Hennepin County jail on suspicion of animal cruelty. Herron said she will recommend that prosecutors file dogfighting charges, which are a felony. The suspect has convictions for assaults, drugs, disorderly conduct and unlawful assembly.
He has not yet been charged in connection with the dogfighting operation.
Officers from Minneapolis police, animal control and other agencies seized 10 adult dogs and five puppies, which are being held at Minneapolis Animal Care & Control during the investigation.
Herron said many of the animals were scarred from multiple wounds. She said she has reason to believe that other dogs have been killed.
“Absolutely,” she said. “If you have a loser dog, that’s what they do with them.”
The dogs were kept outside, on dirt, with minimal food and water. Each dog was in its own kennel, with a doghouse, Herron said. Each dog was padlocked to a chain that was embedded in the ground in concrete or on a tire iron. Most of the kennels were padlocked shut, and a key was needed to get into them.
One adult dog shown Wednesday was covered with scars in various stages of healing, especially on his legs and face. One ear was missing.
The Minneapolis man arrested was renting various homes so that he had places to keep the dogs.
People were living at those locations as well, Herron said.
The suspect’s mother, who also lives in Minneapolis, expressed shock Wednesday night upon learning that her son had been jailed in connection with alleged dogfighting. She claimed he would not do that.
“He’s been loving dogs ever since he’s little,” she said.
Herron said she has been investigating the case for 18 months. Dogfighting operations are difficult to uncover, and she drove through alleys, hunting for the kind of doghouses that dogfight operators use. Neighbors also called in concerns, she said.
“It is such an underground activity, it takes a long time just to penetrate and get into that underground activity,” said Bruce Folkens, commander of Minneapolis police special crimes investigations.
via www.startribune.com/local/west/232758731.html
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