A large-scale cockfighting operation was discovered in Polk County on Saturday, reportedly ending in more than 100 arrests.
Multiple law enforcement agencies and the Humane Society of the United States worked together to uncover a cockfighting ring in Ducktown, Tenn., according to police.
Police said late Saturday they would release additional information about the operation when it becomes available.
In March, more than 60 people from three states were arrested in Murray County, Ga., on cockfighting charges.
Murray County Sheriff Howard Ensley said of the March arrests that U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration officials discovered a major cockfighting site on Berry Bennett Road in Chatsworth, Ga., and continued to investigate the area along with local help.
When the investigators had enough evidence, a raid was conducted March 15, rounding up 67 suspects, Sheriff Ensley said.
He said there were people arrested from Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee.
Among the arrests, police were able to identify three people allegedly running the fights, Sheriff Ensley said.
Those three were charged with commercial gambling for conducting the cockfights, records show.
Most of the others were charged with gambling and cruelty to animals, and a few had drug charges also, Sheriff Ensley said.
Three people from Tennessee -- two from Cleveland, one from Birchwood -- were charged during the raid. "I don't think cockfighting is a prevalent (criminal) charge in Hamilton County," said Executive Assistant District Attorney Neal Pinkston.
Staff writers Joy Lukachick and Monica Mercer contributed to this story.