Nine arrests were made in connection with a cock-fighting ring right here in Fort Worth. According to a release, Parker County Sheriff’s deputies and investigators arrested nine individuals in connection with a cock-fighting ring on April 6.

The authorities received an anonymous Crime Stoppers tip pertaining to an illegal cockfighting operation. Bless that anonymous tipster.

Parker County Sheriff Russ Authier said the incident took place Sunday, April 6, in northern Parker County. As deputies arrived on scene, about 40 individuals scattered across the property and fled on foot into a wooded area.

Sheriff’s deputies and investigators observed a cockfighting ring inside a metal barn on the property. Sheriff’s investigators also observed deceased roosters throughout the property in plastic bags, wheelbarrows, and two severely wounded roosters on the ring floor, plus three more severely wounded roosters outside of the ring.

Sheriff’s deputies also located several live roosters caged nearby and inside vehicles on the property.

Sheriff’s deputies identified the property owner as Jesus Baldemar Zurita, 50, who owned six of the roosters which were believed to be fighting and had agreed to host the operation for “work friends.”

Zurita was said to be charging spectators $40 per person as a spectator fee.

A search warrant was executed for the property Sunday. Sheriff’s investigators and four sheriff’s animal control officers seized 96 roosters, a box trailer, six vehicles and $15,550 in currency believed to be proceeds from the gambling operation.

Sheriff’s investigators said they also seized more than 50 “slashers” or “gaffs,” which are commonly used during cockfighting. The gaffs are razor-sharp, curved, spiked spurs which are typically strapped to the rooster’s leg, and used to fight another rooster “to the death.”

Arrests
Jesus Baldemar Zurita, 50, of Weatherford, was identified as the property owner and was charged with state jail felony cockfighting/causes or earns. His bond was set at $10,000.

Gloria Franco Govea, 59, of Azle, was charged with cockfighting/space/owns or trains. Her bond was set at $2,500.

The remaining individuals were arrested and charged with cockfighting. All were given low bonds of $1,166.

• Alfredo Ibarra, 28, of Boyd
• J Jesus Alvarado 35, of Fort Worth
• Emilio Lopez Leal, 48, of Windthorst
• Jesus Nieto, 17, of Gainsville
• Efren Palomo, 30, of Laredo
• Miguel Tovar Rodriguez, 46, of White Settlement
• Francisco Armando Garcia-Gonzales, 53, of Fort Worth. A no-bond was placed on Garcia-Gonzales for a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer.
• Rosalinda Cisneros, 45, was issued a Class C misdemeanor citation for participating in cockfighting as a spectator only, and was later released at the scene.

Parker County Sheriff Russ Authier expressed thanks to the staff and volunteers with Animal Investigation and Response (AIR), a non-profit organization out of Fort Worth, focused on assisting animals in law enforcement seizures and disaster relief efforts.

The AIR organization sent individuals and supplies to assist sheriff’s animal control officers with housing, feed, and care of the seized roosters.

A Parker County Weatherford Animal Shelter staff veterinarian will be assessing the medical needs of the injured roosters that were seized. Placement of the animals and seized items will be determined at a later date, during a property hearing.