Police link man to lucrative cockfighting operation

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By Melica Johnson and Associated Press

Summary

A 37-year-old man whom police said claimed to make up to $30,000 a night in cockfights has been arrested on charges of running the operation. Officers searched the VanBeek Dairy near Corvallis and found more than 35 birds.

Story Published: Aug 22, 2007 at 9:00 PM PDT

Story Updated: Mar 2, 2010 at 4:45 PM PDT

CORVALLIS, Ore. - A 37-year-old man whom police said claimed to make up to $30,000 a night in cockfights has been arrested on charges of running the operation.

Suspect Martin Ramos-Reyes, pictured below, lived and worked at the VanBeek Dairy near Alpine, where officers found more than 35 birds and evidence that two roosters had been used for illegal fights.

Police said the dairy's owners cooperated with the investigation and were not involved in the alleged cockfighting organization.

"I'm surprised that I didn't know (it was going on)," said dairy owner Martin VanBeek.

He said he knew Ramos-Reyes was breeding the birds in the backyard and in a dairy outbuilding, but he said he did not know that alone was illegal. VanBeek also said he did not believe the birds were being used for fighting.

"I'm very surprised by it because it's very contrary to what we're all about," VanBeek said. "We're about animal husbandry."

According to court documents, a search of the dairy led to the discovery of 23 chickens, 12 roosters, DVDs showing cockfighting and catalogs for ordering cockfighting supplies.

A police informant also claims to have seen a black briefcase full of spurs – 1- to 3-inch blades used for cockfighting – in Ramos-Reyes' possession.

"What some people will do is they will attach razors or small knives or some type of implement for killing the other animal," said Corvallis police Lt. Dave Henslee.

According to police, these fights brought in big money. Ramos-Reyes apparently made $30,000 in gambling proceeds off just one cockfight.

Benton County District Attorney John Haroldson said this sort of animal cruelty case is unusual, but he realizes times have changed.

"Nationwide we're starting to see a greater awareness of cases where animals are tortured, whether that's dogs or roosters," he said.

The police investigation into the cockfight also led federal immigration officials to find six undocumented workers at the dairy. They were taken into custody for deportation.