AL: Major dog fighting ring raided, arrests made

Posted: Monday, August 26, 2013 11:38 am | Updated: 2:37 pm, Mon Aug 26, 2013.

BY DREW TAYLOR/Opelika-Auburn News

MONTGOMERY -- U.S. Attorney George Beck thinks there are two types of people in hell -- those who are cruel to children and those who are cruel to animals.

On Monday, Beck was joined by members of the Auburn Police Division, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other local law enforcement agencies at his Montgomery office to announce that 10 people had been arrested Friday in connection to an alleged dog-fighting ring, where 367 pit bulls were rescued by officers, as well as members of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Humane Society of the United States. In addition, a number of guns, illegal drugs, canine drugs and $500,000 was confiscated during the raids.

“It should serve as some type of notice or warning to those who want to engage in this type of activity,” Beck said during the press conference.

Beck said the efforts of all the parties involved led to 13 indictments and search warrants being made across Alabama and other states, including Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas. Beck said 10 arrests have been made and that there are three others who are being sought.

According to Beck, some of the defendants were betting between $5,000 and $200,000 on dog fights.

APD Chief Paul Register said cases like these are some of the reasons that he and others first got into law enforcement and that it was not until the raid that he fully understood the wide-reaching effects of dog fighting.

“The inhumane treatment that we’ve all seen during this case we will not forget,” Register said. “The Auburn Police Division was happy to be a part of this investigation.”

Chris Schindler, manager of animal fighting investigations, said the significance of this case was not just on the local level, but on the national level.

“This will have significant implications throughout the country,” Schindler said. “Hopefully, this will send a strong message to other individuals engaged in this that this will not be tolerated.”

Tim Rickey, vice president of field investigations and response for the ASPCA, said the investigation was three years in the making and expressed his gratitude for those involved for their diligence in seeing justice through.

“This was an extremely long investigation, but as you hear the details of the case in the days and weeks to come, I think you will understand why it was so important that this investigation continue to be followed,” Rickey said.

Rickey detailed that many of these animals were living in “horrendous” conditions, being chained up and malnourished. Now, the animals are being kept in undisclosed locations to receive treatment.

“Today, these dogs are comfortable in the shelter being taken care of by ASPC,” Rickey said. “They’re getting the food and water and medical care that they needed and they’re finally getting a loving hand from responders who cared for these dogs.”

The following people were arrested during the raids:

» Donnie Anderson—48, of Auburn.

» Demontt Allen—37, of Houston.

» William Antone Edwards—42, of Brantley.

» William Oneil Edwards—39, of Elba.

» Robin Stinson—40, of Elba.

» Michael Martin—54, of Auburn.

» Lawrence Watford—35, of Adel, Ga.

» Ricky Van Le—24, of Biloxi, Miss.

» David Sellers—52, of Opelika.

» Sandy Brown—47, Brownsville.



Major dog fighting ring raided, arrests made - Dothan Eagle: Crime Court