Police raided a home near Cypress and Jurupa Avenue in Fontana Wednesday. They had been investigating 37-year-old Luis Rosales for six months. Police said they found hundreds of roosters bred for battle out of the backyard of a home.
"Mr. Rosales was very tied in and involved with elite cockfighting," said Sgt. Billy Green with Fontana Police. "We're talking upwards of $100,000 per fight."
Police said Rosales used his four acre property to breed, train and fight the birds, which came as a surprise to neighbors. Ernesto Gonzales said he did odd jobs around the property and was unaware of what was going on.
"As a matter of fact I never seen the cocks that he was raising," said Gonzales. "I heard them but I never went back there to see."
During a search of the property, investigators said they discovered pharmaceutical drugs to enhance fighting rooster's performance. They also located barbs which are tied to the animals' legs to make them more lethal in the ring.
"It is painful for the animals," said Green. "And these cocks do fight to the death."
Police said they not only discovered a cock fight ring in the backyard, but they also discovered a dental chair and said that Rosales was offering unlicensed dentistry. Rosales' dental skills didn't come as a surprise to neighbors.
"People would bring their kids and stuff like that," said Gonzales.
Rosales was arrested on charges of animal cruelty and possession of a fire arm, along with several misdemeanors. His two children were also placed with children's protective services.
As for the 300 roosters on the property, animal control officers had to put down 183 of them because their training could make them a danger to others.
