TENNESSEE ANIMAL FIGHTING RAIDS AND ARRESTS
Below are some of the cockfighting and dogfighting raids conducted over the last five years. 2009 Memphis – Police arrest a man on cockfighting charges and seized 88 birds. He came under suspicion when cockfighting knives were found in his luggage on a flight from Detroit. Sumner County – cockfight in Bethpage. 48 were arrested and 78 roosters seized. Lewis County – The Shiloh Game Club is raided by federal and state agents. Nearly 300 were arrested, about 200 animals seized, and over $30,000 in cash confiscated. Rutherford County – Cockfight of about 75 people raided, but only 1 man was charged due to the fact a single officer drove up and everyone scattered. 2010 Polk County – A large pit is raided in Copperhill in June. 104 people are arrested, and 150 birds were seized. Memphis – Two people arrested and four live dogs seized in March. Later in the month, another person is arrested on dogfighting charges in Memphis and another dog is seized. 2011 Hawkins County- Gamefowl farm in Hawkins County raided. One person was arrested, and 170 gamefowl seized Hamblen County – Thirty-seven people were arrested when a cockfight was raided in Hamblen County. Thirty birds were seized. Memphis – A total of seven arrests made on separate dogfighting charges; overall, 18 dogs found. One person arrested in a small raid in which five gamefowl were seized. Kingsport – Three people arrested on dogfighting; three dogs recovered. 2012 Crossville – Three people arrested at a cockfight at which five birds were seized. Morristown – One person arrested as gamefowl farm is raided and 18 birds are seized Hawkins County – A gamecock and pit bull operation is uncovered, and one person is arrested. Twenty-one dogs and 20 birds are seized. (double chk) Ashland City – Sixty-five dogs recovered and four people arrested on cockfighting charges. Bedford County – One person arrested at a cockfight. 2013 Hawkins County – Seven people arrested as a cockfight is raided in January. Lewis County – Four people are indicted on federal charges stemming from 2009 cockfighting bust. Davidson County – Two people arrested as a gamefowl farm is raided. Sixty birds are seized. Memphis – In January, four dogs recovered and one person arrested on cockfighting charges. In April, Forty-four fowl seized and one person arrested as a gamefowl farm is raided. Chattanooga – One man arrested on dogfighting charge and 12 dogs recovered. 2014 Memphis – A gamefowl farm is raided in October, with 40 fowl seized and one person arrested. A separate report lists another raid in Memphis later that month, where one is arrested and over 50 fowl are seized. In December, 24 dogs are seized and one person is arrested on dogfighting charges. Nashville – Thirty-eight dogs recovered from dogfighting operation connected to millions in money laundering and drugs; two people arrested. Sevier County – Fifty dogs recovered from game dog breeder Sin City Kennels. Sullivan County – Gamefowl farm raided in December; one arrested. 2015 Graysville – A cockfight is raided this January. Three people are arrested. Source: Humane Society of the United States
Every time Tom Farrow has infiltrated a cockfighting pit and scanned the crowd, he has always spotted kids.
The longtime animal-fighting investigator has watched children clutch dead roosters in their hands, bumping the limp birds against each other in mock-duels. He’s seen teenagers count out small amounts of cash, placing bets for the first time. He remembers the tiny girl being scolded by her father for crying at a cockfight that was raided in Polk County in 2010.