Indianapolis, Ind.—
Indianapolis police say they've busted the biggest dog fighting operation they've ever seen. Nearly two dozen people were arrested and nine dogs rescued in the 3000 block of West 60th Street just after 10:30 on Friday night.The bust comes after an extensive investigation by both local police and federal officials with the Department of Agriculture. Undercover agents infiltrated the dog fighting arena built inside the garage of the home. Once the fighting began, they signaled SWAT officers.
What they found inside was an underground world of dog abuse and betting that few people could imagine happening here.
"Surprised, honestly," said Thomas Arvin, who lives across the street from the house. "I did not see it coming."
Whether or not neighbors were aware of it, police say the property was home to an elaborate dog fighting ring. In addition to the two dozen people inside placing bets on Friday, animal control rescued nine pit bulls, many of them suffering from fresh fighting wounds.
Thomas knew his neighbors had dogs, but he says he had no idea what was happening until he saw the police cars fill the neighborhood Friday night.
"From time to time I'd hear a dog yelping in the backyard or something," Arvin said. "I just found out from a neighbor last night that they saw a dog chewing at chains. It was chained up in the back trying to get out."
In all, 23 people were arrested for attending an animal fighting contest ranging in age from 17 to 44 years old. Two people even traveled all the way from Kentucky.
"We've heard about it in the United States," said Lt. Jeff Duhammel with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. "I've never seen it here in Indianapolis of this magnitude."
Officers found more than $10,000 in cash laid out for betting inside the garage as well as dogs fighting when they entered Friday night.
In addition to the blood-soaked pit that was used for the actual dog fighting. Police say the facility was also used as a training ground. They confiscated treadmills used to run the dogs along with bite sticks and much more.
"There was medication and steroids that they use on the dogs," Duhammel said. "So there was a lot of things going on in there."
Police also saw what was perhaps the most telling sign of the scope of the operation. Some of those in attendance even had their own t-shirts, featuring their fighting dog's weight.
Police say they're just happy they've put a stop to it. Thomas is still trying to understand how someone could have started it.
"Oh, it's terrible," Arvin said. "There's no excuse for that kind of stuff. You shouldn't do that to any other being."
Most of those arrested have now bonded out of jail because the charges they face are misdemeanor counts of attending an animal fight. Police say they anticipate more charges once they identify the owners of the dogs and those found to be running the operation.
The dogs are currently being cared for by animal control. They are all expected to live.
