On Saturday, an undercover operation exposed a brutal cockfighting ring in Bexar County, resulting in the confiscation of 200 roosters, firearms, and drugs, an anonymous tipster led authorities to the grim scene on a rural stretch of Sand Cliff Drive, where deputies made their move early in the morning to head off further violence among the birds. According to KENS 5, roosters were discovered confined in cages, some with severe injuries from fighting with gaffs, which are sharp three-inch blades tied to the roosters' legs.
The Bexar County Sheriff's Office swung into action after a tip came in late Friday, they set up surveillance, did their homework and obtained a search warrant for the property, responding quickly to the lead, upon their arrival officers found multiple roosters in cages and vehicles and detained about 50 people already present for the event, according to a News 4 San Antonio report. Paul Morales, identified as the renter of the property and found with weapons in his possession, was arrested and now faces a state jail felony charge related to cockfighting and gambling.
While the individuals found at the site were cited with a class C misdemeanor for attending the illegal event, the fate of the seized roosters remains undetermined; they will be taken to an undisclosed location for evaluation and care before a final decision is made, "We were able to get surveillance out here early, do our homework, obtain a search warrant for this location and subsequently raid the location with our marked units, and our covert and organized crime division units," Deputy Chief Nancy Sanford told News 4 San Antonio, highlighting the thoroughness of the investigation.
Drugs found in a truck on the premises were field tested, giving authorities enough cause to seize them along with the firearms, "We did find a little bit of drugs in a vehicle, course all we've done is the presumptive field test, but enough to be able to seize, and we seized a couple of guns," Sanford explained to News 4 San Antonio, underscoring the multifaceted nature of the criminal operation, furthermore, Deputy Chief Sanford hinted at the probability of other events having taken place on the property and emphasized the sheriff's office's commitment to rooting out such illicit activities wherever they may be found.
