MARSHALL, Texas – Harrison County sheriff’s deputies, alongside Texas Parks Brokers, found a dogfighting operation within the woods close to Waskom, simply off Strickland Springs Highway.
The proprietor of the property, Jesus Stephens, was arrested.
Deputies initially responded to issues there was highlight looking taking place on account of lights being seen out within the woods.
Once they arrived, deputies noticed a big crowd of individuals, together with Stephens, who stated he owned the land. One other man knowledgeable them that there was dogfighting occurring again within the woods. The deputies detained Stephens who lead them again to the place the preventing rings have been situated.
Everybody who was there had ran away from the scene into the woods. A number of of them left behind autos, telephones and empty money envelopes.
The cages have been stained with blood and dust from the canine. One canine was discovered alive, however quickly needed to be put down from its accidents.
Sheriff B.J. Fletcher believes there have been no less than 20 canine there.
Fletcher additionally believes that Stephens turned himself in to offer a chance for everybody else to flee. Additionally, this would possibly simply be one half of a bigger operation.
Fletcher stated he acquired a tip from a federal agent shortly earlier than a few canine preventing group probably spreading to his county. To date, they’d not gotten any signal of them till Saturday night time.
Harrison deputies are working carefully with the FBI and Texas Division of Public Security to pursue leads. As a result of there was a considerable amount of proof on the scene, Fletcher is assured there shall be a number of arrests made within the coming days.