CCSO: 2 men arrested for participating in cockfights

LA FERIA, Texas (ValleyCentral) – Two men have been arrested for alleged cockfighting, officials say.

Gerardo Zepeda, 45, was charged with allowing another person to use property for cockfighting, and Rogelio Tapia, 64, was charged with cockfighting and animal cruelty, according to a news release from the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office.

At 10 p.m. on Saturday, Cameron County officials were called to the 11,000 block of Calle Oriente for a possible cockfight.

At the crime scene, officers saw white boxes with roosters in them. They described the roosters as having large cuts all over their bodies and blood-stained feathers.

In addition, they found several tools used in cockfighting, such as knives, bridles and hooks. The press release states that authorities asked a group of people drinking alcohol who the owner of the property was.

A man later identified as Zepeda spoke to officers and stated that he was the owner of the property.

According to deputies, he admitted to allowing the cockfights to take place on his property and to owning some of the injured roosters.

In addition, a second man named Tapia came forward and admitted to the officials that he had participated in the cockfights and that some of the injured roosters also belonged to him.

Both men were arrested.

The group of people who were present at the cockfights received summonses, the press release added.