7 Arrested In Illegal Cockfighting Event In West Haven: Police

WEST HAVEN, CT — Seven people were arrested in connection with a “large-scale illegal cockfighting event” in West Haven on Saturday, according to police.

Police responded around 6:50 p.m. on Nov. 22 to a building in the 200 block of Front Avenue on the report of illegal cockfighting, according to police.

“When patrol officers, along with members of the Street Crime Unit, arrived, they encountered well over 100 people inside the building gathered around what appeared to be a makeshift wooden cockfighting ring,” police wrote in a post on Facebook. “When officers entered, many of the individuals seated around this makeshift ring, along with bystanders, began fleeing the building. However, officers were able to apprehend seven individuals involved.”

Police said a closer look at the inside of the makeshift ring found “loose feathers, chicken spurs, blood spatter, and other evidence.”

Officers also found “dozens of roosters, some running around and others in boxes,” according to police.

West Haven Animal Control Officers also responded and seized more than 30 live roosters and several dead roosters, according to police.

Police said West Haven detectives investigated and found that “this was a large-scale illegal cockfighting event with participants coming from the Tri-State area.”

The following men were arrested and charged with cruelty to animals, illegal use of an animal for fighting, and interfering with an officer: Andrade Catana, 52, of New Windsor, New York; Kelvin Quituizaca-Martinez, 32, of Middletown, New York, Luciano Ramos, 60, of Newburgh, New York; Jesus Ventura-Reyes, 60, of Brooklyn, New York; Jose Jiminez- Ortiz, 62, of New Britain, and Samuel Santiago, 49, of Hamden.

Jose Gonzalez, 58, of West Haven, was charged with cruelty to animals and illegal use of an animal for fighting.