Suspected cockfight event busted in Soledad
Deputies received information from a citizen regarding a cockfighting event planned to take place in Soledad on Saturday. Neighbors said they have been suspicious for awhile.
Dennis Dunne said he’s lived in his Soledad home for years and wasn’t really surprised when he saw a big group of sheriff deputies and SPCA humane investigators show up Saturday night at a property on Metz Road.
“We’ve seen a lot of cars parked along the road in the early evenings in that area,” said Dunne.
Dunne said he and his wife can hear a lot of roosters crowing at night.
“And the other thing, it’s all boarded up along the front of the fence line there, and nobody else has anything like that down here,” said Dunne.
Dunne said it was obvious the property owners were trying to hide something behind the fences but that secret was blown after a tip came in about a planned cockfight.
Investigators did some homework and found out the SPCA has been at Gonzalo Manriquez’s house before.
Around 8:30 p.m. Saturday, CHP officers flew a helicopter over the suspected area for proof.
A total of 42 suspects were detained. The SPCA had to euthanize 45 roosters due to their injuries from fighting.
Sheriff deputies said when they showed up dozens of people started to run but they nabbed Manriquez and 41 other people who were cited for various charges.
Neighbors in the area said they’ve had their suspicions about the illegal gaming for awhile.
Dunnes considers himself an animal lover but as far as the cockfights go-
“You know what, it’s upsetting but it’s part of their culture,” said Dunne.
A sport in some countries, the SPCA of Monterey County Humane Investigators has been trying to educate the community more.
Last year there was a new law passed in Monterey County requiring people in the unincorporated areas to get a permit if they have five or more roosters.
In the last two years, county leaders said they’ve seen an increase in those who breed roosters for the purpose of fighting and profit.
