Police on Friday found about 400 chickens on a Fairview Road property and arrested three Hollister men on suspicion of possessing the birds for cockfighting, according to the Hollister Police Department.
The suspects are Roberto Hernandez Ramirez, 30, Raul Botello Ramirez, 49, and Jesus Manuel Hernandez, 19.
They were booked into the San Benito County Jail with recommended charges of misdemeanor crimes for possessing game cocks for fighting, owning/training an animal for fighting and cruelty to animals, according to police.
Hollister police, sheriff’s deputies and drug enforcement officers served the warrant at about 10 a.m. Friday at the property in the 4300 block of Fairview Road.
According to the police statement: “Approximately 400 total chickens were located on the property. Over 120 roosters were specially caged and being prepared for use in cockfighting. Criminal paraphernalia related to illegal cockfighting was also collected.”
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