The following information has been provided by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department:

On Saturday, May 3, 2008, at about 11:45 a.m. deputies assigned to the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s station were dispatched to the 23000 block of Old Road, in the unincorporated county area know as Good Hope, on a report of a large cockfighting event.

Upon arrival, deputies observed approximately forty male subjects fleeing the location. Three male subjects were subsequently apprehended and detained, pending further investigation.

Deputies located forty-four live roosters contained in individual cardboard carry boxes and fourteen recently deceased roosters.

The injuries sustained by the deceased roosters were consistent with the injuries a rooster would sustain as a result of being subjected to cockfighting. Several fighting spurs and other cockfighting paraphernalia were also located and retained as evidence. Animal Control Officers were dispatched to the location and took custody of the deceased and live roosters.

Luis Velasquez (Age 52), a resident of Perris, Oscar Cervantes (Age 33), a resident of Los Angeles and Manuel Cervantes-Avalos (Age 24), a resident of Grand Terrace were arrested and charged with being present at a cockfighting event and booked at the South West Detention Center.