OH: 4 Warren men busted in Akron dog fighting sting

By Jeff Levkulich Published: November 19, 2014, 8:36 pm Updated: November 19, 2014, 8:56 pm

AKRON, Ohio (WYTV) – One of the largest dog fighting operations in northeast Ohio history led to the arrest of 47 people in Akron over the weekend following a sting that broke up an active dog fight.

Akron police said a blood stained ring where dogs would fight to the death was built into the garage of a home on Cordova Avenue. In the ring were two blood-stained knives.

“What they do is they will stab the dog to make it angry to begin the fight,” Akron Police Chief James Nice said.

Just as the fight began Saturday night, police barged in.

“This was actually a well-orchestrated fight,” Nice said.

It was so well orchestrated there was a pile of chains to hold the dogs, a shower to wash the blood off, a treadmill to keep them in shape, a pen area and a concession stand set up with food. Police arrested the suspected ringleader, Alvin Banks, but people from as far away as California were there when they busted up the operation, including Warren residents Christopher Bufford, Royce Green, Mahr Hameed and Darren Williams. Green had just been released from the Trumbull County Jail last week on drug charges.

Humane officers with the Trumbull County Animal Welfare League said they recently rescued three dogs from a home in Warren where dogs were allegedly being trained to fight.

“It is here. People are doing it. A lot of people do it in areas you don’t really think they are going to do it. They will transport animals out of state to partake in the fight,” humane officer Robin Stowe said.

Participants in the weekend dog fight also came from California, Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois and Indiana. The 47 people arrested were charged with felony dog fighting, and many had outstanding warrants for other charges.

“The bigger the fight, the more money these people make. It is thousands of dollars, $50,000 to $60,000 a fight. So a lot of people come in from a lot of states to watch these dogs do this, which is disturbing,” Nice said.

The Humane Society of Greater Akron will house the pit bulls while criminal proceedings take place.

Pictures: Dog fighting ring | Dog fighting ring | photoMojo | WYTV.COM

4 Warren men busted in Akron dog fighting sting | WYTV.com