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A rooster fighting and breeding compound was discovered by a pizza delivery driver in Florida, authorities said.
The driver delivered to a home in Winter Haven on Friday during an alleged cockfight and alerted authorities.
“We really appreciate this pizza delivery driver calling us. Frankly, I can’t understand why someone would ask for a pizza delivery during an illegal cockfight, but (we) are happy to also make house calls. It’s pretty funny when you think about it," said Sheriff Grady Judd.
While checking out the property, deputies said they saw a rooster-fighting ring through a large open-door area of a large barn. Deputies saw rooster feathers inside the ring, authorities said.
Photos: Cockfighting ring located in Winter Haven
Authorities found more than 60 roosters, hens and small chickens. Some were in cages and a few were roaming free in the back of the barn.
Authorities also found a table used for trimming rooster spurs.
Inside a plastic container, deputies found several plastic boxing gloves that are used to train the roosters to fight without injuring themselves. Also in the container were several ceramic spurs that are tied onto a rooster’s natural spur area to kill the opposing rooster, authorities said.
Several bottles of medication from Mexico clearly marked for rooster fighting were found inside a refrigerator in the barn.
Nine of the roosters found on the property were bred at the location, authorities said. The roosters had their combs and spurs trimmed and appeared ready to fight, authorities said.
Detectives charged Eliut Juse Serrano Hernandez, 38, with possession of animals for the purpose of fighting or baiting, possession of equipment used for fighting or baiting animals and leasing a property for the purpose of fighting or baiting animals.
All charges are third-degree felonies.
Hernandez admitted to deputies that the roosters on the property were his and that he staged fights with the birds on the property. He said the ring was his and that the boxing gloves and spurs might belong to him.
Hernandez also said he maintained the property and that he had staged fights among the birds there one or two times.
In all, 123 roosters and chickens were confiscated.
Two others at the property were arrested on other charges.
Oscar Feliciano Agudo, 42, was arrested on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Christiane Ann Moser, 38, was arrested on charges of violation of probation, possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
