Seven suspects arrested in connection with a November raid at a local cockfighting event are due in court Tuesday.
At about 9 p.m. Nov. 23, authorities stopped a cockfighting event in the 7600 block of Frazier Lake Road and seized nearly 70 birds. The suspects arrested – for either organizing or taking part as spectators – are scheduled to be in court for arraignments at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday at the San Benito County Courthouse.
San Martin’s Agustin S. Medieta, 35, is among those due in court. He is facing charges on suspicion of possessing a fighting rooster and being a spectator. The CHP found him about two miles away, according to police. He was holding a fighting rooster that he claimed had followed him, police alleged.
Also arrested for being spectators and due in court Tuesday morning are Bernardino Hernandez of Salinas, Jose R. Perez of Salinas, Pedro L. Hernandez of Gilroy, Gustavo G. Perez of Menlo Park, Roberto H. Jimenez-Santiago of Morgan Hill and Erik D. Melero Villarreal of Menlo Park. They were all cited and released after their arrests for the misdemeanor crime.
Hollister police reported the agency worked with animal control, the sheriff’s office and the California Highway Patrol in investigating the “large cockfight in progress” in that area of San Benito County, according to a police report.
As police confronted the participants and while roosters continued fighting, hundreds of people fled the illegal gathering and ran into surrounding fields, according to police.
According to a police statement, animal control and the CHP seized a total of 66 roosters. Four roosters were found dead as a result of the fighting. Seven had sustained life-threatening injuries and were euthanized, and 55 live roosters were seized as evidence.
Police reported there were “numerous knives” attached to birds during the fight.
