WIMAUMA, Fla. (WFLA) — Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputies made a disturbing discovery when responding to a report of shots fired at a Wimauma residence, a dead rooster laying in a cockfighting ring and more than 100 fighting roosters.
On March 1, deputies responded to 5310 Ruth Morris Road in Wimauma after someone reported hearing shots fired in the area.
Deputies say they found Oraldo Rodriguez, 43, hiding behind a large chicken coop at the rear of the property. Deputies also saw a large number of chickens. Some of the chickens were fighting each other.
An Animal Control Officer arrived and determined that there was also a cockfighting training ring on the property. Inside the ring were two roosters that had been prepared for fighting or training. Their chest and leg feathers had been removed and they wore sparing gloves.
Deputies say a brown rooster was dead inside the cockfighting ring. The ring also included a timer, weight scale and record book. Deputies say there were a total of 107 fighting roosters within the chicken coop.
Rodriguez, who is a Tampa resident, was arrested on two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, two counts of baiting, breeding, owning or possessing animals and owning equipment for animal fighting.
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