Large scale cockfighting ring under investigation in Tolland
A criminal investigation has been launched after a large-scale cock fighting event was discovered in Tolland.
According to Brian Foley, Tolland Town Manager and former member of the Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Connecticut Department of Agriculture conducted a criminal investigation operation as the result of intelligence gathering.
A cockfighting event was discovered at a dormant quarry off Mountain Spring Road Saturday afternoon. Foley says the quarry has been inactive for more than a decade and is extremely secluded.
There have been a significant number of arrests, many of which were processed directly on the scene. The Tolland Judicial District State’s Attorney’s Office was also present. Foley approximates that 50 or so people were placed under arrest.
Significant evidence was recovered at the scene, including hundreds of birds.
Foley says that these types of investigations are extremely rare. In his 27 years of law enforcement experience , he has only encountered this type of event twice.
“While this type of event is shocking, yesterday’s operation demonstrated clearly that the Town of Tolland is not the place to attempt this type of criminal activity,” said Foley. “Our law enforcement partners made that abundantly clear. Animal cruelty of this type or any kind will never be tolerated in the Town of Tolland.”
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