Wisconsin Man Caught In Sting Trying To Sell Dog For Fights
MAYWOOD, Ill. (CBS) -- A man came all the way from Wisconsin to sell his pit bull for dogfighting, and he likely won't be going home anytime soon.
Al "Boogie" Clemons, 54, of Racine, Wis., was charged earlier this week with selling a dog for the purpose of fighting, a felony. His bond was set at $30,000 on Wednesday, according to the Cook County Sheriff's office.
LISTEN: Newsradio 780's Michele Fiore reports
Podcast
Sheriff's police were tipped off that Clemons was trying to sell a 41-pound female pit bull to use in fights. An undercover officer called Clemons, who allegedly told him the dog had already won two fights and had a bloodline of champions, the sheriff's office said.
Clemons allegedly described the dog's style as "face fighting," that is, she would attack the head and face of her opponent in a fight to leave the other dog incapacitated. Clemons offered $1,500 for the dog, and agreed to deliver it on Tuesday.
Clemons arrived with the dog as promised at the Miller Meadows Forest Preserve just outside Maywood, sheriff's police said. He met the undercover officer in the forest preserve, but before going ahead with the sale, he displayed the pit bull's fighting skills by "rolling" her on a chain with another fighting dog nearby, sheriff's police said.
The sheriff's office released surveillance video of the meeting:
Before one of the dogs got hurt, the undercover officer dispatched police and Clemons was arrested.
The dog is now in the custody of the Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge. Clemons was to return to court for a preliminary hearing at the Maybrook Courthouse in Maywood Friday, according to the sheriff's office.
