By Peggy King

peggy.king@gaflnews.com

VIENNA — Fourteen individuals face dogfighting charges after a sheriff’s deputy walked up on the suspected illegal operation this past Sunday night.

Dooly Sheriff’s Investigator Randy Lamberth said the sheriff’s department has received a number of tips about dogfighting in the county, but most operators keep a scanner on, and they are able to disperse before law enforcement personnel arrive on the scene, he said.

This time, however, there was no scanner, and Lt. Travis Pollock actually walked up to a single-wide trailer on Truman Rd. where he heard dogs fighting inside. He also found numerous people on the site, and more dogs tied up outside.

Lamberth said one person walked around the trailer, saw the deputy and yelled, “police,” causing the crowd to scatter. Many of the participants were identified, however, because they came back for their vehicles later in the night.

Fourteen people including 11 men, two women and a juvenile from four counties have been arrested and charged with dogfighting and cruelty to animals.

Those arrested were Tyrone Felton, 35 and Lasasha S. Bennett, 19 of Vienna; Eddie James Walker Jr., 22 of Byromville; Anthony James Granville, 22 of Lilly; Curtis Dwayne Mency, 31of Warwick; Bradley A. Engram, 21 of Montezuma and Monique D. Reed, 22 of Ft. Walton Beach, FL. She also is wanted for forgery in the state of Florida.

Also charged were Donnell Perry Jr., 23, Andrew Lee Fields, 17, Artavious L. James, 24, Johnny L. Davis, 25, Justin C. Fields, 18 and Willie John Granville, 40, all of Cordele. A 15 year old juvenile also faces charges.

Other suspects have been identified, Lamberth said, so additional arrests are pending.

No one on the scene claimed any of the dogs, Lamberth said, but his department recovered 12 animals, all pit bulldogs.

Several of the suspects were released on $6,000 bond earlier in the week, but others are still incarcerated, Lamberth said, because of probation or parole issues.

A reward is available to the person who reported this incident, the investigator said. All that individual has to do is call the sheriff’s department to claim his or her reward, Lamberth added.

Anyone who provides information about a crime that leads to one or more arrests is eligible for a reward, Lamberth explained. “We try to keep the identity of the informant private,” he indicated.