Marty
10-15-2005, 07:23 AM
Rock Hill, SC -- A Chester man is free on bond after authorities charged him this week with three counts of animal fighting, said a Chester County Sheriff's detective.
Antonecos Leron Emerson, 24, of 1151 Liberty Road was arrested and six pit bulldogs valued at $1,800 were seized from his property, according to a sheriff's report. Needles with antibiotics and a staple gun used to stop animals from bleeding were found in a wooden dog pen, the report said.
Officers discovered Emerson and about 20 other spectators standing at the pen watching two pit bulldogs fight around 10 p.m. Tuesday, the report said.
One of the spectators noticed the officers and yelled, the report said. The crowd scattered, with men running into the woods and down the road away from the residence.
Emerson, the owner of the residence where the dog fight took place, was found hiding under his home, Detective Shane Stuart said.
An anonymous caller reported the dog fight to 911, Stuart said. The sheriff's department receives about two calls each month about animal fights, he added.
Stuart said local law enforcement agencies have noticed an increase in suspected animal fighting reports since a Chester County couple was charged with animal fighting by state officials. Emerson's arrest came just as the county's attention was focused on the trial of Arthur Parker Sr. and Mary Luther of Fort Lawn.
The couple faced criminal charges filed by the state for their alleged involvement in a form of illegal animal fighting known as hog dogging. On Thursday, a jury found both not guilty of animal cruelty.
"The public sees a trial like this, and it triggers them to make a report," Stuart said. "We're going to investigate and prosecute animal fighting to the fullest extent of the law."
More arrests are pending in the animal fighting incident that led to Emerson's arrest, Stuart said.
Emerson was released on a $15,000 surety bond Thursday, Stuart said. He gave custody of the six pit bulldogs to Chester County Animal Control.
http://www.heraldonline.com/local/story/5256177p-4771418c.html
Antonecos Leron Emerson, 24, of 1151 Liberty Road was arrested and six pit bulldogs valued at $1,800 were seized from his property, according to a sheriff's report. Needles with antibiotics and a staple gun used to stop animals from bleeding were found in a wooden dog pen, the report said.
Officers discovered Emerson and about 20 other spectators standing at the pen watching two pit bulldogs fight around 10 p.m. Tuesday, the report said.
One of the spectators noticed the officers and yelled, the report said. The crowd scattered, with men running into the woods and down the road away from the residence.
Emerson, the owner of the residence where the dog fight took place, was found hiding under his home, Detective Shane Stuart said.
An anonymous caller reported the dog fight to 911, Stuart said. The sheriff's department receives about two calls each month about animal fights, he added.
Stuart said local law enforcement agencies have noticed an increase in suspected animal fighting reports since a Chester County couple was charged with animal fighting by state officials. Emerson's arrest came just as the county's attention was focused on the trial of Arthur Parker Sr. and Mary Luther of Fort Lawn.
The couple faced criminal charges filed by the state for their alleged involvement in a form of illegal animal fighting known as hog dogging. On Thursday, a jury found both not guilty of animal cruelty.
"The public sees a trial like this, and it triggers them to make a report," Stuart said. "We're going to investigate and prosecute animal fighting to the fullest extent of the law."
More arrests are pending in the animal fighting incident that led to Emerson's arrest, Stuart said.
Emerson was released on a $15,000 surety bond Thursday, Stuart said. He gave custody of the six pit bulldogs to Chester County Animal Control.
http://www.heraldonline.com/local/story/5256177p-4771418c.html