Georgia sheriff’s deputy arrested on dogfighting charges

A Bibb County sheriff’s deputy was arrested Monday on dogfighting charges.

According to a news release from the sheriff’s office, Sheryl Denise Smith, a deputy assigned to the Bibb County jail, was charged with party to the crime of dogfighting following an investigation into a July 11 incident at her home. On that day, eight dogs — all kept at the residence specifically for fighting — were treated for injuries, authorities said.

“Kept at the residence were items for training the dogs and items used to clean the dogs prior to fighting,” the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office said. “All the items were kept in plain view just outside the backdoor in a fenced area.”