Newly released bodycam footage shows Miami‑Dade deputies flooding a rural property in southwest Miami‑Dade on May 16, 2025, in a raid that ended with 42 people in handcuffs. The clips, made public this week, follow deputies as they move along dusty paths, detain suspects and secure the grounds while roosters crow in the background. Investigators say the video offers a sharper look at what they believe was a cockfighting operation hidden in plain sight.
What The Videos Reveal
The bodycam clips, obtained by NBC6, show deputies approaching people with guns drawn, patting down pockets and walking handcuffed individuals to patrol cars. In one segment, a man is taken into custody in an open field; in another, several men sit in cuffs by the roadside as a rooster punctuates the scene with a loud crow. According to NBC6, the raid was launched after a call reporting a fight that allegedly involved "knives and machetes."
The Raid, Arrests And Haul
In a release, the Miami‑Dade Sheriff's Office said deputies responded around 4:06 p.m. to 14287 SW 192nd Avenue, where they found a large gathering and multiple roosters roaming freely. Authorities say 42 people were arrested and charged with attending the fighting or baiting of animals and resisting without violence. Deputies reported recovering 72 roosters and seizing $39,147 at the scene. Investigators also say one person was caught with rooster spurs, an item commonly linked to cockfighting.
What Florida Law Allows
Florida's Animal Fighting Act makes it a third‑degree felony to breed, train, transport or use animals for fighting, and it explicitly bans "attending the fighting or baiting of animals." Under the law, courts can order the seizure of animals and related equipment. The rules are spelled out in Florida Statute 828.122, which sets out the specific offenses and penalties tied to animal fighting.
How This Fits The Local Pattern
The Redland operation lines up with a string of undercover and backyard busts across Miami‑Dade. Earlier this year, Hoodline detailed an alleged backyard cockfighting ring that also involved dozens of birds and felony counts. Local coverage from Local 10 notes that deputies frequently encounter gambling, weapons and large groups of roosters at these gatherings, which investigators say can connect to other criminal activity.
What Comes Next
The arrests fall under case number PD250516143947, and authorities say the investigation is still active. Those taken into custody will proceed through Miami‑Dade's criminal courts and could face felony consequences under state law. The Miami‑Dade Sheriff's Office, in its public comments, is urging anyone with tips about similar suspected rings to reach out to investigators.
