Conservation Officers Arrest 21 in Nicholas County Cock Fighting Raid

Posted by: Holly Canfield on Tue, 03 February 2004 22:57:38 (2353 Reads)

On Sunday, January 25, 2004, Conservation Officers C. W. Young and T. L. White, along with Nicholas County Deputy Sheriff W. K. Shafer, raided an illegal cock fight on Route 82 near Birch River, West Virginia. During the course of the investigation 21 persons were cited for participating in an illegal cock fight and more arrests are pending.

Of the 21 cited, 10 were apprehended in a wooded area where they had fled when officers approached the scene. One subject was attempting to remove his orange coveralls when he saw Officer Young approaching his location. He fled, leaving his shoes behind, and spent almost three hours in the snow barefooted before being apprehended.



Seventeen live roosters were seized along with several dead ones and other paraphernalia, including one set of fighting spurs. Accommodations were made at the Nicholas County Animal Shelter to house the birds. They will remain there until disposition of the case. Officers at the scene were assisted by Sgt. Lanham of the Summersville Police Department and Pat Bostic, Nicholas County Animal Control Officer.



Those cited include:

· Ricky L Butcher of Dille, West Virginia (44 years old)



· Karen L. Butcher of Dille, West Virginia (43 Years old)



· Lorenza W. Dancy of Birch River, West Virginia (42 years old)



· Donal L. Simmons, Jr., of Sutton, West Virginia (40 years old)



· Melissa D. Hiner of Birch River, West Virginia (28 years old)



· Nicole K. Hiner of Birch River, West Virginia (23 years old)



· One juvenile of Little Birch, West Virginia (17 years old)



· Tony A. Adkins of Birch River, West Virginia (41 years old)



· Ray A. Hiner of Birch River, West Virginia (30 years old)



· Tommie L. Lawson of Summersville, West Virginia (54 years old)



· Jason S. Coulter of Birch River, West Virginia (26 years old)



· James A. Williams of Birch River, West Virginia (25 years old)



· Kevin R. Gilles of Craigsville, West Virginia (40 years old)



· Gary W. Spinks of Birch River, West Virginia (55 years old)



· Earl T. Williams of Birch River, West Virginia (60 years old)



· Hayden C. Cutlip of Birch River, West Virginia (51 years old)



· Junior O. Williams of Birch River, West Virginia (28 years old)



· Clayton A. Ahart of Craigsville, West Virginia (34 years old)



· Carl F. Butcher of Dille, West Virginia (41 years old)



· Jonathan M. Davis of Birch River, West Virginia (31 years old)



· David E. Cutlip of Mt. Lookout, West Virginia (41 years old)