(KUTV) â
Thirty-six men in Utah County have been cited or charged in connection with two illegal cockfighting operations recently uncovered by deputies, according to the Utah County Sheriff s Office.
Content warning: This report contains evidence photos provided by the Utah County Sheriff s Office which may be disturbing to some viewers. Discretion is advised.
Both investigations were carried out over a period of six days in May, during which time deputies working off of tips served two search warrants at locations suspected to be connected with the illegal operations.
The first led to the arrest of 32-year-old Jose Arturo Meza-Basan after a search of a residence in Orem uncovered dozens of cages of roosters and dozens of baby chickens. They also located razor-sharp spurs they believe were being attached to the roosters feet in order to cause greater injury to other roosters. Officials noted possession of such spurs is a felony offense.
OREM Detectives investigating potential drug activity in Orem said they discovered a suspected cock fighting operation.
The Utah County Major Crimes Unit served a search warrant on an Orem residence Tuesday. Inside the basement of the home, officers found a bedroom that contained hundreds of baby chickens and sharpened metal spurs that are tied to the legs of male chickens in order to inflict more damage to another chicken when fighting, according to a police affidavit.
Utah County Sheriff s Sgt. Spencer Cannon said there were thousands of chickens throughout the inside and outside of the property. Some of the chickens had their spur cut down in order for the blades to (be) attached, the affidavit states.