MD: Police bust dogfighting ring while looking for murder suspect

Police bust dogfighting ring while looking for murder suspect
Man arrested, 6 pit bulls rescued
UPDATED 7:17 AM EST Dec 24, 2013 By Saliqa Khan



BALTIMORE —In the process of searching for a murder suspect, Baltimore City police said they cracked a dogfighting ring.

Police said one man was charged with animal cruelty as six pit bulls were removed from his home.

Animal control officers brought the dogs to the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter. One pit bull's injuries were so extensive that the dog had to be euthanized.

Officers from the warrant apprehension task force said they went to the 4200 block of Elderon Avenue in northwest Baltimore on Friday to look for a violent criminal and instead found evidence of dogfighting.

"They were looking for a murder suspect. Officers went into a home. They believed the suspect was in the home, (but it) turned out he was not there," Baltimore Police Department spokesman Detective Jeremy Silbert said.

Antwane Knight, 33, was inside, and officers said he gave police permission to search the home.

"Initially, officers found two pit bulls in the basement, and they could tell they were not OK and needed some attention," Silbert said.

One of the dogs was a female pit bull with recent severe bite wounds to her entire face and head, according to a court charging document. Her face was swollen and the wounds were infected.

"Any time we find any injured animals, we call animal control and we work with them during our investigation," Silbert said.

Police said during the course of the investigation they also found two treadmills, including a slat mill used for conditioning and endurance, as well as other equipment commonly used in dogfighting.

Four more injured dogs were also found in the back yard. Investigators said the animals had no food or water.

According to the court records, a male pit bull was in a metal cage and had recent severe injuries to the front and rear legs. Its front leg injuries were infected. Police said the rear leg was broken and the dog could not walk on it.

Animal control told 11 News that pit bull was severely injured and was humanely euthanized because of its injuries. The other dogs are being cared for at BARCS.

Knight told police he owned the dogs and showed officers pet licenses from the city, as well as rabies documentation. He was charged with animal cruelty, and his bail was set at $150,000. He was released Saturday.

"This was not the individual detectives were looking for when they initially went in," Silbert said.

11 News went to the house to ask about the dogfighting allegations. The people who answered the door said Knight wasn't there.

Knight is expected to appear in court on Jan. 22.

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