Van Zandt County Man Arrested After Yearlong Cockfighting Investigation Yields Nearly 200 Seized Roosters Near Grand Saline
A Grand Saline man is facing felony charges after a coordinated law enforcement operation dismantled a suspected cockfighting ring east of Dallas last week, resulting in the rescue of nearly 200 birds and the discovery of tens of thousands of dollars in cash.
,Investigators with the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office, backed by the Wills Point Police Department and the SPCA of Texas, executed a search warrant at a residence in the 100 block of Van Zandt County Road 1118 near Grand Saline at approximately 7 a.m. on July 16.,
,The investigation was launched on June 26 after the sheriff’s office received a report of suspected cockfighting activity at the property., What followed was a months-long effort by multiple agencies working together to build a case strong enough to secure a warrant.
,Of the birds recovered at the scene, 174 were roosters and seven were hens. Authorities also took possession of $55,000 in cash, cockfighting paraphernalia, specialized bird transport equipment, vehicles and trailers, and electronic devices.,
,Justin Blake Hart, 29, of Grand Saline, was booked on a warrant charging him with cockfighting by causing or earning., ,The charge is classified as a state jail felony under Texas law., ,Hart was released on Friday after posting a $35,000 bond.,
,The SPCA described cockfighting as a violent blood sport in which birds are conditioned to fight, frequently with knives or gaffs attached to their legs., The organization’s involvement proved critical to both the investigation and the recovery of the animals.
,The SPCA of Texas safely transported all 181 roosters to its facility in Dallas, following the raid, where the birds are now in the care of animal welfare staff.
,Van Zandt County Sheriff Joe Bridger commended the investigators for their dedication and professionalism and expressed gratitude to both the Wills Point Police Department and the SPCA of Texas for their assistance in executing the warrants and relocating the animals.,
,The SPCA of Texas chief investigator Courtney Burns stated that cockfighting is a cruel and illegal activity often connected to organized crime and other criminal activity that threatens community safety.,
,The Van Zandt County bust is the latest in what animal welfare advocates describe as an epidemic of illegal animal fighting afflicting the Lone Star State., ,Similar operations have been conducted in Galveston, Potter County, San Jacinto, Cherokee, and Lynn County, with charges in those cases ranging from animal cruelty and illegal gambling to organized crime and unlawful weapon possession.,
,The investigation in Van Zandt County remains ongoing. As with all criminal cases, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.