PROVO, Utah (ABC4) — Nearly 20 people were arrested Saturday night after Provo Police busted a local cockfighting event.
On Nov. 29, Provo officers received information about a possible cockfighting event in progress on a property located at 1215 W 600 S. Police obtained a warrant and found evidence of suspicious activity through drone footage, according to a press release.
Police executed a second warrant on the property and a number of people fled the location. Officers were able to arrest 17 individuals.
Upon searching the property, police found what appeared to be a large fighting ring and 363 live roosters on site. Additionally, police found over 56 dead roosters in garbage bins and bags as well as game fighting-related paraphernalia.
The 17 individuals were booked into Utah County Jail for the charge of Game Fowl Fighting, a class-B misdemeanor. Seven of those were given an additional charge of Aggravated Cruelty to an Animal, a class-A misdemeanor. Five were given an additional charge of failure to stop at the command of a peace officer, a class-A misdemeanor, while one was given a charge of possession of a controlled substance, a class-B misdemeanor.
The investigation into this incident remains ongoing.
No further information is available at this time.