Rockland Key man arrested for cock fighting
Rockland Key - An anonymous phone call led to the arrest of a Rockland Key man Friday night on charges of cock fighting and animal cruelty.
One hundred sixty eight birds were found on property located at 571 Beach Drive on Rockland Key, which belongs to the suspect 67 year old Lorenzo Miralles. The SPCA removed 80 of the birds immediately where were the most seriously injured or those who were prepped for fighting. The rest will be removed today.
arrived, but they were able to stop and identify 23 people. All but two of them were from the lower Keys. The other two were from Cape Coral, Florida and Hialeah, Florida. Miralles came forward and admitted to being the property owner. He agreed to a search of his property and denied being involved in cock fighting.
A search of the property revealed an octagonal arena, where the fights most likely took place. They also found a large amount of medical equipment, including suture kits, antibiotics, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and betadine solution. Approximately 60 spurs were found of numerous sizes along with spur covers which appeared to be stained with blood. A book that appeared to be a betting ledger was also found.
A number of the birds had been prepped for fighting. They had been shaved on the back, the underside and many had the combs on their heads cut off. One was bleeding from the remains of a comb which appeared to have just been removed or had been injured in some other way. A number of the chickens were injured; some had open wounds, some had missing eyes and some had scabbing and scars.
Miralles was arrested and charged with violation of the animal fighting act (Florida Statute 328.122) and with animal cruelty. Both charges are third degree felony charges. He was booked into the Monroe County Detention Center.
and here are about five thousand cages etc, and additional pics of the raid. Pix Gallery
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