26 Arrested in Multi-State Dogfighting Operation After Hart County Deputy Spots Blood-Stained Crates
Law enforcement officers arrested 26 individuals on charges of dogfighting and animal cruelty following a multi-agency response near Jim Heard Road in Hart County, Georgia, on Friday night, wsbtv.com reported.
The operation unspooled just before 11:30 p.m. when a Hart County deputy responded to a call about vehicles parked along both sides of Jim Heard Road. Upon arriving, the deputy heard dogs barking and growling from a wooded area and discovered dog crates with blood on them inside several parked vehicles.
Three men fled as the deputy approached a drive leading into the woods. The deputy took one man into custody while the others ran into the surrounding timber. As reported by wsbtv.com, reinforcement was subsequently requested by the Hart County Sheriff’s Office from the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, and an agent representing the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office.
Drones, K-9 Units, and Suspects Hidden in Woods
Authorities deployed three K-9 units and two drones to sweep the area. According to wrdw.com, officers located 20 people hiding in the surrounding woods and a nearby field. Investigators subsequently arrested six more suspects, including four who arrived at the scene and two who were walking along a nearby road.
Law enforcement towed 26 vehicles from the site, seizing firearms, multiple dogs, and large quantities of cash, though officials have not yet released the exact number of dogs or the amount of money recovered. Hart County Animal Control took custody of the surviving dogs.
Dogfighting is a cruel and inhumane activity that has no place in Hart County or anywhere else. I am extremely proud of our deputies for their quick actions and outstanding work in locating and apprehending these individuals. — Hart County Sheriff Chris Carroll
Suspects from Ten States and Washington, D.C.
The 26 people arrested hail from ten different states and the nation’s capital, reflecting the multi-state nature of the operation. Those charged include Patrick Oneal Heard, 48, of Elberton, Georgia; Ronald Greg Cunningham, 55, of Bowman, Georgia; and Rodriguez Deangelo Bell, 43, of McDonough, Georgia, as reported by wsbtv.com.
Florida residents facing charges include Tazmorronta Hollowell, 52, of Lauderdale Lakes; Edick Wellington Thomas, 52, of Clewiston; Dwight Eric Pinellas, 29, of Kissimmee; and Raymond Elusta Richo, 55, of Jacksonville. Authorities also detained a substantial group originating from Mississippi, which included Ronald Kamel Wiggins, 46; Kristi Lakiah Watkins, 37; Gregory Jermaine McCallun, 47; Jarrod Christopher Middleton, 41; Keith Montel Skinner, 33; Cedric Lashawn Kyle, 53; Jahim Brown, 23; and Charles Jamaruez Wilson, 38, hailing from Jackson and nearby municipalities such as Kosciusko, Lexington, and Sallis.
Michigan is represented by Cory Lavon Edwards, 50, of Pontiac, and Deandre Lindell Upchurch, 45, of Flint. South Carolina defendants include Donnell Lamar Slade, 51, of Columbia; Jerell Dejaun Summers, 34, of Orangeburg; Eddrick Deewayne Twitty, 46, of Blackwood; and Glenn Everett Zebbs, 50, of Westminster.
Rounding out the arrests are Tina Monique Adams, 46, of Lancaster, Texas; Curtis Franklin, 45, of Rochester, New York; Terrance Franklin Davis, 48, of Dothan, Alabama; Jonathan C. Primus, 35, of Charleston, West Virginia; and Monty Henry, 33, of Washington, D.C.
Sheriff Carroll stated that the investigation remains ongoing and that additional charges may be forthcoming.
