Sheriff’s Department shuts down illegal cockfight

FERRIS — The Ellis County Sheriff’s Office arrested six people and issued several dozen citations after deputies and assisting agencies shut down an illegal cockfight in the 700 block of Risinger Road, Ferris, on March 29.

The Sheriff’s Office was alerted to the illegal cockfight at about 9:50 a.m. and responded to the scene with its Patrol, Criminal Investigation and Animal Control divisions. Assistance was received from the Texas Department of Public Safety, Palmer Police Department, Garrett Police Department and the SPCA of Texas.

After law enforcement personnel cleared a structure at the scene, several dozen people were issued class C citations for cockfighting – attending as a spectator [Penal Code 42.105(b)(6)]. All were identified and searched for officer safety, with warrant checks conducted on each.

One person – Juan Nuno, 38, of Dallas – was taken into custody and transported to Wayne McCollum Detention Center, where he was booked-in on warrants out of the Dallas Police Department. A second person – Oscar Rene Romero, 30, of Dallas – was taken into custody and booked into WMDC on a class A misdemeanor charge of possession of cockfighting equipment, with bond set at $5,000.

Four people attempted to flee the scene and led a foot chase over about a mile of farmland before going into some woods. A patrol unit caught one of the four in a tree line off of Trumbull Road. The other three were attempting to hide in heavy brush and briars when they were spotted by a deputy and taken into custody.

Booked into WMDC on misdemeanor charges of evading arrest/detention with bonds set at $5,000 each were:

Fabian Mendoza, 28, of Arlington
Jose G. Vasquez, 34, of Arlington
Elias Mondragon, 28, of Arlington
Jesus Magana, 41, of Arlington

Mendoza also was found to be in possession of cockfighting equipment and was additionally booked in on that class A misdemeanor charge with a bond set at $5,000.

ECSO obtained a seizure warrant and 286 chickens were taken in by the SPCA of Texas. A hearing is pending on their final disposition. One chicken was found dead at the scene.