LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – Lake County deputies made an arrest over the weekend after a large cock-fighting ring was discovered in Eustis nearly two months ago.
In an affidavit, deputies said they responded to a property along Ilex Trail on April 27 after receiving a “911 hang-up call.”
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Once there, deputies walked toward the back of the property to figure out who called, though they found dozens of men who were “startled by our presence,” the affidavit stated.
According to investigators, the men then began loading caged chickens into their vehicles before driving recklessly away from the property.
“Due to being severely outnumbered, the deputies decided to make contact with the vehicles that were actively committing traffic violations and conducted traffic stops,” the affidavit read.
After uncovering the identities of several of these drivers, the deputies said they then returned to the property, where they found over 20 chickens — at least 10 of which were dead in a hole — and a cock-fighting ring.
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Deputies added that there were also abandoned vehicles scattered throughout the property, and wire cages with roosters were placed near some of them. Crowing could be heard from a couple of trailers on the property.
“Given the outside temperature and not observing any type of ventilation, I opened the unlocked side doors of both trailers to allow air into the trailers,” the affidavit said. “The roosters inside the trailer were panting and appeared to be of the gamefowl variety.”
During a search of the property — which belonged to Heinrich Gonzalez, 53 — investigators said they found 72 items of cock-fighting paraphernalia, including:
- Gaffs
- Knives
- Spur Saws
- Dubbing Shears
- Waxed String
- Sparing Muffs
- Rooster Performance-Enhancement Drugs
- Scabbards
Forty living roosters were recovered from the scene, and one was outfitted with a “Mexican slasher,” which is slang for a short knife used in cock fighting, tied to its leg, the affidavit shows.
The roosters were taken to the Lake County Animal Shelter for treatment, though seven were ultimately euthanized to end their suffering from the wounds they received during the cock-fights.
A couple of days later, deputies contacted Gonzalez via cell phone, and he claimed that “someone” had asked to use the property for a party on April 27, investigators reported. In addition, he admitted to building the structure that deputies believed to be a cock-fighting ring, though Gonzalez claimed it was to house his boat.
Despite the claims, Gonzalez was arrested on Sunday over his connections to the cock-fight. He faces 48 counts of animal cruelty and over 70 counts of animal fighting and baiting.
In addition, Lake County officials said there are even more arrest warrants connected to this case.
Investigators did not release the identities of those wanted under the outstanding warrants.
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