NEWTON COUNTY, TX – 45 people were arrested and nearly $74,000 was seized after deputies uncovered an alleged dog-fighting operation in Newton County, according to Sheriff Colton Havard.
Havard said it was part of Operation Pitbull, an investigation that began in March following months of community complaints.
Before serving the warrant, deputies used a drone with FLIR technology and observed several people positioned around the property who investigators believe were acting as lookouts.
When officers moved in, they found an active dog fight underway inside a pit built specifically for dog fighting. Many people at the scene ran into the nearby woods, but all were eventually captured. Deputies separated the two injured dogs and secured them in kennels for safety.
Harvard said 45 people were arrested with the help of the Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and other agencies. The two dogs involved were taken to the Nederland Emergency Veterinarian Clinic for treatment.
$73,858 in U.S. currency was taken into evidence, and the Sheriff’s Office said it will petition the court to seize all cash and other items tied to criminal activity.
“Dog fighting and animal cruelty will not be tolerated in Newton County. In my years in law enforcement, this is one of the most disturbing crimes I have ever witnessed, and the individuals involved should be ashamed of themselves. As your Sheriff, I vow to utilize every resource at our disposal to combat criminal activity in our county,” Newton County Sheriff Colton Havard wrote on Facebook.