LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. — The Lee County Sheriffs Office received a tip about a possible cockfighting ring in Lehigh Acres.
The Agricultural Crimes Unit and Animal Cruelty Task Force were dispatched to investigate South Naples Avenue.
Upon arrival, deputies found cages containing individual roosters, a scale, wax, a blowtorch, and multiple gaffs/spurs, a file, and other miscellaneous items common to the sport.
In addition to 22 full-grown roosters, the Agricultural Crimes Unit and Animal Cruelty Task Force located an undetermined number of chicks. Many lacked feathers and, additionally, back feathers were cut nearly to the skin.
Detectives executed a warrant and discovered bottles of vitamins; multiple clippers used to cut spurs, rubber training mitts, additional gaffs/spurs (some of which still had adhesive on them), a bottle of antiseptic, emery boards, scales, wax poles, a blowtorch, a soldering iron, and a cockfighting transport case.
Vladimir Reyes, 51, was arrested and charged with two counts of Possession of Animals for Animal Fighting and one count of Possession of Animal Fighting Equipment.
