Cockfighting Raid Results in 15 Arrests

Police responding to complaints of noise in a residential neighborhood in Panorama City uncovered a sophisticated cockfighting operation, Los Angeles police officials said.

The officers made 15 arrests Sunday and confiscated titanium claws, which are attached to the birds’ legs to help them kill one another, as well as three guns and over $3,000 in cash, said Sgt. Mario Valdez, the supervising officer at the scene.

The alleged cockfighters had spread carpets on the floor to keep the roosters from slipping, and the birds were kept in handsomely finished boxes, he said.

“Most patrol officers see something like this once in 15 years,” said Los Angeles Police Department Sgt. Mario Valdez, the supervising officer at the scene.

Police said that the city Department of Animal Regulation took responsibility for the 19 birds, two of which were dead and two badly injured.

Those arrested--who reportedly are residents of the San Fernando Valley, Arcadia, Inglewood and Carson--were booked on suspicion of cockfighting and attending a cockfight.

The cockfight was allegedly taking place in front of a garage in the 8300 block of Ranchito Avenue.

“It was a real sophisticated cockfighting operation,” Valdez said. “The owner of the house admitted to us that he had these birds brought from Arizona.”