14 Suspects Identified In Philadelphia Dog Fighting Raid
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The Pennsylvania SPCA worked overtime Monday morning, raiding homes across the city to break up what officials called the largest dog fighting ring they've ever seen in this city. In all, fourteen males (listed below) were arrested and charged with Criminal Conspiracy and Cruelty to Animals.
Officials say the dogfighting ring had been under surveillance for a while. And late Sunday night, early Monday morning, the Pennsylvania SPCA with Philadelphia police acting on a tip that fights were happening, raided a home on the 2600 block of Gerritt Street.
Pennsylvania SPCA director of law enforcement, George Bengal says when they entered the house, there were around 25 people watching a fight in progress.
"They actually ran, and left the dogs in the ring fighting, unattended when we entered the property."
Those two dogs that were fighting, Bengal says are in pretty bad shape. In all six dogs were taken from that house. The 14 men who were arrested are:
Vincent Floyd 22 year old male from the 3000 block of Mifflin Street
Theodore Gaines 23 year old male from the 5900 block of Christian Street
Rashawn Coleman 30 year old male from the 2200 block of Sergeant Street
Paul Greenidge 38 year old male from the 1400 block of Napfle Street
Paul Escobosa 19 year old male from the 700 block of North Hilton Street
Marcquel Johnson 27 year old male from the 900 block of South 59th Street
Juan Rosa 24 year old male from the 3000 block of North Potter Street
Jonathan Galarza 26 year old male from the 4000 block of North Reese Street
Jerome Davis 41 year old male from the 3600 block of Potter Street
Jeffrey Harris 32 year old male from the 1100 block of East Rittenhouse Street
Henry Beard 42 year old male from the 3200 block of Magee Street
Edward Gonzalez 28 year old male from the 700 block of East Clearfield Street
Donte Jones 19 year old male from the 3000 block of Marlow Street
Daniel Parmegiani 33 year old male from the 1500 block of South Newkirk Street
Gallery: 14 Arrested In Dog Fighting Raids
At about 7 a.m. Monday, officials raided another home -- this one in Kensington -- where Bengal says they found 12 dogs stacked in cages in the basement alongside a collection of drugs, weapons, and dog fighting paraphernalia.
Reported by Jim Melwert, KYW Newsradio; Nicole Brewer, CBSPhilly.com
