Police in Fontana have busted an illegal cockfighting operation and all because the man they allege was behind it posted photos on Instagram.
Antonio Alvarez, 21, faces animal cruelty charges after officers found dead and injured roosters at his home on Randall Avenue, reports The LA Times.
Police received an anonymous tip from someone calling in from Minnesota that pointed them towards Alvarez’s Instagram account. The account was filled with graphic videos of roosters fighting to the death, according to the cops, as Alvarez was using it to promote breeding, selling, training, and fighting of rooters for cockfighting. Police also found a Craigslist ad offering fighting fowl for sale.
“We rely on tips from all over to help us track down illegal activity on social media sites, including the suspect’s Craigslist ad where he was offering fighting fowl for sale,” said Supervising Animal Services Officer Jamie Simmons in a press release.
Alvarez was arrested and booked into West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga on suspicion of animal cruelty. He was released on bail Wednesday, according to the Sun newspaper.
Authorities found an undisclosed amount of dead birds along with 30 live roosters at Alvarez’s home, many of which were sick and injured.
All of the birds were euthanized because they were trained to fight and cannot return to farm life, police said.
